Scientists identified risk of Earthquake in the Hills of Uttarakhand

Scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute in last week of August 2013 discovered a significantly different structural feature in Uttarakhand hills, which may lead to major earthquake in the region. As per the reports from the disaster management division of the Home Ministry, the geography of the region may hold a strain (energy) that can be released in form of a major quake as it is one among the many possibilities of released a stored energy.

The details of the feature were presented after a detailed seismological investigation of the Uttarakhand region that was conducted by a team of scientists from Geophysical Research Institute, as a part of research project from Department of Science and Technology over a period of over three years. The project aimed at providing a detailed structural framework for the region with reference to earthquake genesis.

The aim of the project was to provide a detailed structural framework for the region with reference to earthquake genesis.

Government Guidelines for Management of Earthquakes
Guidelines related to management of risk factors in the areas marked as high seismic zone has been issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The issued guidelines include:

• Development of new structures in compliance of earthquake resistant building codes
• Planning of new towns as per laws
• Indian standards for earthquake resistant designs have been issued by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)