Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades.

As per the current seismic zone map of the country, over 59% of India’s land area is under threat of moderate to severe seismic hazard. In fact, the entire Himalayan belt is considered prone to great earthquakes ofm agnitude exceeding 8.0.

Factors for increased vulnerability:

1. Movement of the Indian plate towards Eurasian plate (~47 mm/year).

2. Unplanned and unscientific construction

3. Urbanization

4. High Population Density

5. High Vibration Equipments used for infrastructure development

Major disasters:

1. Uttarkashi Earthquake (1991)

a. Along the Main Central Thrust in the Uttarkashi and Garhwal region

b. Due to low-angle thrust faulting along the boundary of Indian-Eurasian tectonic plate.

2. Killari (Latur) Earthquake (1993)

a. caused by friction between two sides of the Kurudwadi fault.

3. Jabalpur Earthquake (1997)

a. Caused by the movement of Narmada-Son fault.

4. Bhuj Earthquake (2001)

a. Caused due to release of compression stress between region's faults.

5. Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004)

a. Caused due to an earthquake near Sumatra along a thrust fault.

Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon, which we can neither predict nor stop but we can be better prepared.