Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Wednesday unveiled a commemorative plaque to inaugurate a Rs.2.7 million UN-funded emergency operations centre in the Rose Garden of the UN House at Phulchowk.

The centre will create public awareness amongst people on the possible impact of natural disasters in Nepal, including earthquakes, and help in relief measures. The three-room building is capable of withstanding a tremor of 8.5 on the Richter scale.

An earthquake of 8.3 magnitude on the Richter scale will kill 40,000 persons in Kathmandu Valley, 95,000 others will be injured while 60 percent of buildings will be destroyed, an estimate released at the function said.