Top 10 Worst Earthquakes in India

The term 'Earthquake' refers to the shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity. The vibration of Earth produced by the rapid release of energy. This energy radiates in all directions from the source, focus, in the form of waves. The intensity of an earthquake and the destruction it causes are greater over softer soil regions, for example on alluvial soils, than on more rocky areas. The magnitude or intensity of energy released by an earthquake is measured by the Richter scale. It ranges from between 0 and 9. India is divided into five earthquake Zones (Seismic Zones) based on the intensities of earthquakes recorded on the Modified Mercalli Scale.

Top 10 Worst Earthquakes in India

1. Indian Ocean

Deaths: > 283,106

Date, Time and Year: 08:50, December 26, 2004

Magnitude: 9.1–9.3

Epicentre: West coast of Sumatra, Indonesia

2. Kashmir

Deaths: 130,000

Date, Time and Year: 08:50:38, October 8, 2005

Magnitude: 7.6

Epicentre: Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir    

3. Bihar and Nepal

Deaths: > 30,000

Date, Time and Year: 14:13, January 15, 1934

Magnitude: 8.7

Epicentre: South of Mount Everest

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4. Gujarat

Deaths: 20,000

Date, Time and Year: 08:50:00, January 26, 2001

Magnitude: 7.7

Epicentre: Kutch, Gujarat

5. Kangra

Deaths: > 20,000

Date, Time and Year: 06:10, April 4, 1905

Magnitude: 7.8

Epicentre: Himalayas

6. Latur

Deaths: > 9,748

Date, Time and Year: 22:25, September 30, 1993

Magnitude: 6.4

Epicentre: Killari, Latur

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7. Assam

Deaths: 1,526

Date, Time and Year: 19:39, August 15, 1950

Magnitude: 8.6

Epicentre: Rima, Tibet

8. Assam

Deaths: 1500

Date, Time and Year: 17:11, June 12, 1897

Magnitude: 8.1

Epicentre: Exact location not known

9. Uttarkashi

Deaths: >1,000

Date, Time and Year: Unknown time, October 20, 1991

Magnitude: 6.8

Epicentre: Garhwal, Uttarakhand

10. Koynanagar

Deaths: 180

Date, Time and Year: 04:21, December

Magnitude: 6.5

Epicentre: Koyna

The Indian subcontinent has a history of earthquakes. The reason for the intensity and high frequency of earthquakes is that the Indian plate driving into Asia at a rate of approximately 49 mm/year.

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