Earthquakes originate due to the breakage of fault lines and at irregular intervals, which makes them unpredictable. The worst part is earthquakes can happen anywhere and anytime, and we never know when we will be affected.
These earthquakes result from a series of earth movements brought about by a sudden release of energy during the tectonic activities in the earth’s crust.
The Indian plate is moving at a speed of one cm per year towards the north and northeaster direction and this movement of plates is being constantly obstructed by the Eurasian plate from the north.
As a result of this, both the plates are said to be locked with each other resulting in accumulation of energy at different points of time.
Excessive accumulation of energy results in building up of stress, which ultimately leads to the breaking up of the lock and the sudden release of energy causes earthquakes along the Himalayan arch.
Some of the most vulnerable states are Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and the Darjiling and subdivision of West Bengal and all the seven states of the northeast
National Geophysical Laboratory, Geological Survey of India, Department of Meteorology, Government of India, along with the recently formed National Institute of Disaster Management, following five earthquake zones:
- Very high damage risk zone: North-east states, areas to the north of Darbhanga and Araria along the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, Uttarakhand, Western Himachal Pradesh around Dharamshala.
- High damage risk zone: The remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Northern parts of Punjab, Eastern parts of Haryana, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Northern Bihar fall under the High Damage Risk Zone.
- Very low damage risk zone: Most of the areas that can be considered safe are from the stable landmass covered under the Deccan plateau.
