In Thailand and Myanmar, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake recently killed more than 2,000 people and injured more than 4,000. Such events in our neighboring nations serve as a reminder to us to consider our readiness to handle a similar circumstance should it arise in India.
Experts caution that the likelihood of a significant earthquake occurring in India is extremely high. And if it strikes large, densely populated places like Delhi or Guwahati, it may be worse than what we are seeing in Myanmar. Our nation is still woefully unprepared.
The Sagaing fault’s horizontal motion was the cause of the earthquake in Myanmar. It resembled vast stretches of land gliding past one another in a horizontal motion.
Some historical earthquakes, such as the San Andreas Fault in California, were comparable to the occurrence of a strike-slip fault. It was a high-magnitude, shallow earthquake that caused noticeable damage and strong surface shaking.
India is located in one of the seismically active regions of the planet. Under the Himalayas, tremendous pressure is created by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
It is past time for a “Great Himalayan Earthquake” of magnitude 8+. It will occur. It will also be disastrous. The Indian plate is subducting beneath the Sunda and Burma plates in northeastern India. Devastating tsunamis and large subduction earthquakes are possible. Rare but fatal intraplate earthquakes, like the 1993 Latur Earthquake, can strike even central and peninsular India.
There is a 59% chance of earthquakes in India. The states most at risk include Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and the Northeast. Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi are located in seismically active areas.
Without adequate seismic protection, buildings continue to rise. More individuals are killed by falling structures than by trembling ground during earthquakes.
India has been devastated by earthquakes in the past, including the Kangra earthquake in 1905, the Bihar disaster in 1934, the Assam earthquake in 1950, and the Gujarati Bhuj tragedy in 2001.
There is a recurring pattern to the response to disasters: a shock at first, followed by a rush of temporary solutions, and then a gradual decline into risky complacency. Lessons are lost, the urgency wanes, and the cycle repeats again.
Having learned from previous disasters, nations like Chile and Japan have taken preemptive measures to lessen damage. They have created strong early warning systems, enforced strict building rules, and constructed earthquake-resistant buildings. Numerous lives have been saved by their dedication to readiness.
India has not yet implemented such precautions on a national level, despite facing comparable, if not more severe, seismic hazards. We are aware of the dangers. We have witnessed the destruction. Still, we wait.
Having learned from previous disasters, nations like Chile and Japan have taken preemptive measures to lessen damage. They have created strong early warning systems, enforced strict building rules, and constructed earthquake-resistant buildings. Numerous lives have been saved by their dedication to readiness.
India has not yet implemented such precautions on a national level, despite facing comparable, if not more severe, seismic hazards. We are aware of the dangers. We have witnessed the destruction. Still, we wait.
