1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake (Maha Bhukampa)नब्बे सालको महाभूकम्प
Nepal's deadliest recorded earthquake. Striking on the afternoon of Magh 2, 1990 BS, it flattened large parts of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan and devastated eastern Nepal and Bihar. Its anniversary is now National Earthquake Safety Day.
See how this event fits into Nepal's wider history, and explore the districts across the affected region.
Magnitude
Mw 8.0–8.3
see note below
Deaths
8,519
8,519 in Nepal (official 1935 count); 7,253 in Bihar, India
Date
15 January 1934
2 Magh 1990 BS
Depth
15 km
Eastern Nepal, ~9.5 km south of Mt Everest
Magnitude note: USGS/ISC-GEM catalogues Mw 8.0; Bilham (CIRES) re-estimates Mw 8.1–8.2; Riesner et al. (2023, Scientific Reports) argue Mw 8.3. The 8.4 figure in older Nepali sources is a historical Richter estimate.
Epicentre in context
The highlighted circle is this event; the others show Nepal's full major-earthquake record.
Impact
8,519 people died in Nepal according to the official count documented by Brahma Shamsher Rana in Nepalko Maha Bhukampa 1990 (1935); a further 7,253 died in Bihar, India (Brett, 1935).
80,893 buildings were completely destroyed and 126,355 severely damaged across Nepal; nearly every building in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan collapsed or was badly hit.
Liquefaction of the Valley's soft lakebed sediments produced a ~300 km 'slump belt'; ground cracks opened across the Valley while the Pashupatinath temple reportedly escaped damage.
The Dharahara tower was destroyed down to a stump and later rebuilt; the quake ruptured the Main Frontal/Himalayan Thrust at a depth of ~15 km.
Response, reconstruction & legacy
Reconstruction under PM Juddha Shumsher gave central Kathmandu landmarks such as the New Road (Juddha Sadak).
Since 1999 Nepal has observed Magh 2 as National Earthquake Safety Day, at the initiative of NSET, in memory of the disaster.
Where sources disagree
- Magnitude: modern estimates span Mw 8.0 (USGS ISC-GEM) to Mw 8.3 (Riesner et al. 2023); the popular 8.4 figure is the older Richter-scale estimate.
- Total deaths: Nepal 8,519 + Bihar 7,253 sums to ≈15,800, yet USGS/NGDC list 10,700–12,000 combined; the literature has never fully reconciled the counts.
Amarnepal states ranges rather than inventing a single figure when credible sources differ.
Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake (Maha Bhukampa)?+
The 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake (Maha Bhukampa) had a magnitude of Mw 8.0–8.3. It ruptured at a depth of about 15 km. USGS/ISC-GEM catalogues Mw 8.0; Bilham (CIRES) re-estimates Mw 8.1–8.2; Riesner et al. (2023, Scientific Reports) argue Mw 8.3. The 8.4 figure in older Nepali sources is a historical Richter estimate.
When did the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake (Maha Bhukampa) happen?+
It struck on 15 January 1934 (2 Magh 1990 BS in the Bikram Sambat calendar).
How many people died in the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake (Maha Bhukampa)?+
Deaths: 8,519 in Nepal (official 1935 count); 7,253 in Bihar, India. Injuries: Tens of thousands (no systematic count survives).
Where was the epicentre of the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake (Maha Bhukampa)?+
The epicentre was at Eastern Nepal, ~9.5 km south of Mt Everest, at coordinates 26.86°N, 86.59°E.
Sources & data note
Figures for the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake (Maha Bhukampa) as documented by the listed sources. Historical epicentres are approximate.