Thread by @weatherindia

Convulsive Capital: Why Does Delhi-NCR Keep Getting Hit By Frequent #Earthquakes?

weather.com/en-IN/india/ne…

On Monday afternoon, the capital city of India witnessed yet another low-intensity #earthquake. The National Center for Seismology revealed the epicentre of the earthquake was near Gurgaon, Haryana, and its depth was recorded to be 19 km with a magnitude of 2.1.

Mild tremors were reportedly felt in Delhi, Noida, and the surrounding areas for a few seconds.

#earthquakes

Just a week ago, on June 3, Delhi NCR had witnessed another earthquake of magnitude 3.2 on the Richter scale, which struck 19 km southeast of Noida. Further back, on May 29, an earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale jolted the NCR.

#earthquakes

Since April 2020, New Delhi and nearby areas have recorded more than 14 earthquakes. According to the National Center for Seismology, all these earthquakes fell into the range of low to medium, as their magnitude was less than five.

#earthquakes

Why the frequent Earthquakes in and around Delhi?

According to experts, Delhi’s geographical location makes it prone to frequent earthquakes, as it lies in the Himalayan foothills.

Scientific studies have highlighted that the Indian plates are continuously driving towards the Eurasian plates at a rate of 5-6 cm per year.

About 55 million years ago, when the Indian plates crashed into the Eurasian plate, the force of the collision was so strong that it led to the upward folding of the crust. As a result of this collision, the Himalayan ranges were formed.

Experts have stated that since the formation of the Himalayas, a large part of the crust under the mountain ranges has remained deformed. These rocks remain stressed and folded due to the continuous movement of the Indian plates under the mountain.

And when the piled-up stress gets released, it produces minor frequency earthquakes in and around the National Capital Region.

Dr Kalachand Sain, Chief of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, says that while we cannot predict the time, place, or the exact scale of these quakes, consistent seismic activity around the Delhi-NCR region could be a precursor to a major earthquake.

#earthquakes

There are a total of four seismic zones in India. According to the Bureau of India Standards, Delhi-NCR falls under seismic zone four, which states that parts of the region are prone to high damage.

Delhi and its border towns, however, are witnessing consistent growth of the high rise private buildings, plenty of which do not adhere to mandatory guidelines of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) set for earthquake-resistant construction, reports IANS.

#earthquakes

In addition to Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Northern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra (west coast), and Rajasthan all fall into seismic zone 4.