Seismologists had predicted that the first structures to collapse in a big earthquake in Kathmandu would be the new highrise apartments. They would not be able to withstand the shaking and the danger of liquefaction, was the general refrain.

As it turned out, while temples and ancient monuments crumbled and brick clay mortar homes collapsed, none of the highrises came down. Some were badly damaged, others developed cracks, but most of Kathmandu’s tall apartments were intact.

Retired Brig. Gen. Keshar B. Bhandari says the earthquake has not deterred him from staying in his eighth floor apartment. Pic: Gopen Rai Retired Brig. Gen. Keshar B. Bhandari says the earthquake has not deterred him from staying in his eighth floor apartment. Pic: Gopen Rai

Some, like Retired Brigadier General Keshar B. Bhandari has decided to stay put in his eighth floor apartment at Ambe Residency in Chabahil. Every room in the flat offers a glorious view of Pashupatinath temple, and on a clear day one can see right across the Valley and the snow peaks beyond from the balcony.

Retired Brig. Gen. Keshar B. Bhandari says the earthquake has not deterred him from staying in his eighth floor apartment. Pic: Gopen Rai Every room in his apartment offers a view of Pashupatinath temple. Pic: Gopen Rai

"Very few families in the building moved out after the earthquake, and even those who did returned,” says Bhandari. "A few in the first three floors are waiting for maintenance to be completed so they can return.”

For the Bhandari family, the view is not the only attraction. Apartments offer better facilities, security and privacy. The buildings are also better engineered than some of the shoddy buildings that flout the building codes. Which is why he decided to rent out his house and move into his high rise apartment.

When the earthquake struck on 25 April, the first three floors of the two towers sustained minor to moderate cracks on the walls but Bhandari's apartment was unscathed. After an assessment confirmed the structure, columns and beams looked fine, most of the families moved to the lobby for a few days and then back up to their flats despite the aftershocks.

The Bhandaris have no intention of moving out of their top floor apartment any time soon, "We feel safe here, and there is hardly anything to worry about," says Bhandari.

Nita Karki, 49, has been living on the seventh floor at Sunrise Apartment in Dhobighat for the past five years. She returned to her apartment a week after the earthquake because she felt safer there. "When I came back there was no one else in the building but now up to 40 families have returned," she says.

After the earthquake the 12-storey building was given a yellow sticker by the government's assessment team, but Karki who lives with her husband, son and daughter-in-law, says the cracks were not structural.

"A few cracks here and there is normal when earthquake happens,” says a sanguine Karki. "The main thing is that the building did not collapse and no one living in the building was hurt. Plus, the engineers who assessed the building inspected each room and told us which ones were safe.”

Now, there are other families who have never lived in high rises before who want to rent and buy flats in the apartment building. That is why Abiral Pant, 24 isn’t too worried about finding tenants for his family's apartment at Imperial Court in Sanepa.

The family bought the apartment on the fifth floor of the 17-storey building two years ago and was setting it up when the earthquake struck. "My parents were planning to rent out the space for the time being but ultimately they wanted to move in here,” says Pant who adds that the quake didn’t scare his parents away.

"There has been no structural damage in the building. The fact that the building is still standing with very little damage means it is sound,” he adds.

To be sure, there are quite a few apartment buildings with red sticker where residents are still not allowed to return. And a few families are still spooked.

Bishwadeep Aryal of Roadshow Real Estate says there is no reason for the people to be deterred from living in the high rises provided the builders pay special attention to safety. "Given the rapid population growth in the Valley, going vertical is the only way to accommodate more people in less space."

Roadshow's Bhatbhateni Apartment was one of the six high rises to be given a green sticker by the government's rapid visual assessment team. He adds that although it is only logical that people are a little hesitant to invest in an apartment right now, he expects it to pick up.

He adds: "Although we haven’t officially opened bookings for the second phase of Bhatbhateni Apartments, none of the people who had expressed their interest before the earthquake have backed down.”

Sahina Shrestha