Publications

Rethinking housing recovery policy evaluation through assessing satisfaction

Published in International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2026

This paper argues that post-disaster housing recovery policies should broaden their evaluation methods to include household satisfaction as a core metric, rather than relying solely on objective measures like structural durability and completion speed, because factors such as design autonomy and financial flexibility significantly shape both short- and long-term resident well-being and recovery outcomes. Read more

Interdisciplinary perspectives on the intersections of roads, sustainable development, and disaster resilience

Published in International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2025

This paper introduces the concept of ‘roads-in-relation’ as a framing device for interdisciplinary research that links road networks, sustainable development, and disaster resilience, based on a hybrid workshop with practitioners and scholars. Read more

Performance assessment of buildings impacted by the 2019 windstorm in the Central-south of Nepal

Published in Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 2024

The 2019 windstorm in Nepal exposed critical structural vulnerabilities in rural housing, underscoring the urgent need for resilient building design and retrofitting to protect disaster-prone communities. Read more

Reconnaissance of the Effects of the MW5.7 (ML6.4) Jajarkot Nepal Earthquake of 3 November 2023, Post-Earthquake Responses, and Associated Lessons to Be Learned

Published in Geosciences, 2024

On 3 November 2023, a moment magnitude (MW) 5.7 (Local Magnitude, ML6.4) earthquake struck the western region of Nepal, one of the most powerful seismic events since 1505 in the region. Read more

Status and Challenges of Reconstruction of Heritage Structures in Nepal After 2015 Gorkha, Nepal Earthquake

Published in Heritage & Society, 2022

This paper explores the progress and barriers in reconstructing heritage structures in Kathmandu Valley after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, based on ethnographic fieldwork and institutional analysis. Read more

Recommended citation: Sharma, Keshab, Apil KC, and Bigul Pokharel. (2022). "Status and Challenges of Reconstruction of Heritage Structures in Nepal After 2015 Gorkha, Nepal Earthquake." Heritage & Society, 15(1): 89–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159032X.2022.2126229
Download Paper

Increasing Flood Risk Awareness and Warning Readiness by Participation – But Who Understands What Under ‘Participation’?

Published in International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021

Participation is an often-demanded process in disaster risk reduction (DRR), but it is often unclear who understands what under this term. This paper investigates how participation is perceived across countries and contexts through expert interviews. Read more

Post Disaster Reconstruction after 2015 Gorkha Earthquake: Challenges and Influencing Factors

Published in Journal of the Institute of Engineering, 2018

The Gorkha earthquake on April 25, 2015, significantly affected central Nepal, causing widespread destruction and homelessness. This study identifies the major challenges and factors influencing post-disaster reconstruction in Nepal. Read more

Performance of Heritage Structures during the Nepal Earthquake of April 25, 2015

Published in Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 2017

This study investigates the structural performance and failures of heritage buildings in Kathmandu Valley during the 2015 Nepal earthquake, identifying architectural and seismic vulnerabilities in traditional structures. Read more