• Delhi
• Tibetan Community in Dharamsala
• Pakistan
• Tsunami

• Kathmandu (NSET)

• Central Asia
• Central Asia and Caucasus Region
• GESI
• Gujarat
• Quito Retrofit Schools
• Quito Risk Management
• RADIUS

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GeoHazards International (GHI) began working with the Tibetan community in Dharamsala, India in May 2006 because the people and their cultural artifacts are exposed to high earthquake risk. Since the community was established in 1959, it has developed into one of the most important centers of Tibetan culture and religion. By working in Dharamsala today, we hope eventually to improve the safety of other Tibetan communities that are exposed to earthquake risk elsewhere.

Dharamsala is located in the Himalayan foothills close to the active earthquake fault where the devastating M7.8 Kangra earthquake occurred in 1905. Most of the structures in McLeod Ganj, the area that is now the center of the region's large Tibetan community, were destroyed in the 1905 earthquake. The entire area is at significant risk of future arthquake damage.

View of the Tsuglag Khang complex in the McLeod Ganj (Upper Dharamsala) Tibetan community

Following a fact-finding mission in May 2006, GHI received a $25,000 grant from the Flora Family Foundation to perform an initial seismic assessment of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) campus, the Tsuglag Khang (main temple) complex and other structures of cultural importance in the Upper Dharamsala area. The assessment was performed by a team of GHI engineers and additional specialists in September, 2006. The assessment team found numerous earthquake vulnerabilities that endanger the Tibetan community's efforts to preserve their cultural heritage. Scholars, artisans, and others with priceless cultural knowledge live in seismically vulnerable brick and concrete buildings. Tibetan children attend school in potentially vulnerable buildings. A number of cultural and historical treasures are currently at risk in the LTWA main library building and the Tsuglag Khang complex.

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