Monarch perishes in catastrophic quake, decimating population by a third.

King Abhaya Malla met his end during a massive earthquake in Kathmandu Valley, devastating the region. The seismic event, measuring approximately 7.7 on the Richter scale, led to the collapse of numerous structures, including temples, homes, and royal edifices. The king, caught amidst the ruins of his palace, succumbed to the disaster. Abhaya Malla's reign, characterized by consolidation and periodic local conflicts, came to an abrupt halt. The earthquake did not merely signal the death of a monarch but also a humanitarian crisis, as it resulted in the deaths of one-third of the population of the valley. The social fabric of the region was severely impacted, with an estimated 30,000 lives lost. Those who survived faced homelessness, scarcity of supplies, and a breakdown of administrative functions. This catastrophic event underscored the vulnerabilities of the region’s predominantly brick and mud-mortar constructions. The architectural damage was extensive. Temples, many of them heritage sites, crumbled, bearing testimony to the destruction of religious and cultural landmarks. Emergency responses were hindered by the collapsed infrastructure, complicating rescue and relief efforts. After the earthquake, the socio-economic environment of Kathmandu Valley suffered profoundly. Fields lay untended, trade routes were disrupted, and an economic regression set in. The leadership vacuum caused by the king's death added to the instability and the political disarray, with various factions vying for control. In essence, the earthquake was not only a natural disaster but also a transformative episode in the history of Nepal, reshaping the landscape, demography, and polity of Kathmandu Valley. #Nepal #KingAbhayaMalla #Earthquake #NaturalDisaster #History #KathmanduValley #HeritageSites #MoofLife