Explainer: Why is Delhi Impacted Whenever an Earthquake Strikes the Himalayan Region? 

Strong tremors rocked Delhi, the National Capital Region, and large parts of north India after an earthquake struck southwestern Nepal on the intervening nights of November 8 and November 9, 2022. There are different descriptions of the magnitude. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the temblor measures 5.6 magnitudes and happened at a depth of 15.7 kilometers, 21 kilometers east of Dipayal in Nepal, at 1.57 am.

 

In Delhi, The National Center for Seismology tweeted that an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred on November 9, 2022, at 01:57:24 IST, at a depth of 10 km in Nepal.In Delhi, The National Center for Seismology tweeted that an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred on November 9, 2022, at 01:57:24 IST, at a depth of 10 km in Nepal.

Explainer: Why Delhi is Prone to Earthquake

According to experts, Delhi's geographical location makes it prone to frequent earthquakes, as it lies in the Himalayan foothills.

Scientific studies have highlighted that the Indian plates are continuously driving towards the Eurasian plates at a rate of 5-6 cm per year. About 55 million years ago, when the Indian plates crashed into the Eurasian plate, the force of the collision was so strong that it led to the upward folding of the crust. As a result of this collision, the Himalayan ranges were formed.

Experts have stated that since the formation of the Himalayas, a large part of the crust under the mountain ranges has remained deformed. These rocks remain stressed and folded due to the continuous movement of the Indian plates under the mountain. And when the piled-up stress gets released, it produces minor frequency earthquakes in and around the National Capital Region.

Where are the Major Fault Lines?

The upper part of the earth is made up of many small layers, the mantle and the crust. These layers keep colliding with each other as they move. The rotating layers are called tectonic plates. Earthquake tremors are caused by the collision of these plates with each other. The edges of the plate are called plate boundaries. These plates are made up of several faults. These faults are the cause of earthquakes all over the world.

India is divided into four zones according to the risk of earthquakes. The joining point of tectonic plates is called a fault line. Major earthquakes occur only along the fault line. The edges of the plate are uneven and bumpy, and when these edges collide with each other, energy is produced. Wherever the plates are connected, there are more collisions. These are called fault lines, because, on collision, the edge of the plate separates from the fault. Their separation causes earthquakes.

Dr. Dhruv Sen Singh, a geologist at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Geology, Lucknow University, gave three major reasons for earthquake tremors. At the same time, he also explained why Delhi is vulnerable to earthquakes.

The Primary Causes of Earthquakes in India

Dr. Dhruv Sen told Careerindia that because the Himalayas are constantly moving north, the tectonic plate beneath them is colliding with the Eurasian plate. This is the reason that, except for one or two earthquakes, most earthquake tremors occur in the Himalayan region. Hindukush has experienced the most tremors. Since the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, etc. are close to the Himalaya Mountains That's why tremors are felt there.

He further said, "Although frequent earthquakes are not good, to say that these are signs of major earthquakes is too early. because no one can predict earthquakes. At present, there is no technology that can predict earthquakes"

Is Delhi in a Danger Zone?

How safe Delhi is from the point of view of earthquakes, Dr. Dhruv Sen said, "Take the example of the Corona Pandemic." When the pandemic spread, the whole business came to a standstill, who got hurt the most? Small businessmen and big business establishments continued to do their work, they did not suffer much. Similarly, since the Himalayan Mountain range is shifting towards the north, it may happen in the coming time. The earthquakes that occur should have their Centre in the Himalayan region, but in that case the Himalayas will not suffer much; the states of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, etc. will suffer.

Dr. Sen, said, "It is difficult to talk about the earthquake, but it is true that due to the way the Indian plate is moving north, and it is colliding with the Eurasian plate, due to that, a huge amount of energy is being generated. This energy is being collected under the Himalayas. Some part of that energy is propagating toward Delhi-NCR. Rock deformation is taking place in Delhi-NCR, and there are also fault lines and linear zones. where the energy is being collected."

According to the Macro Seismic Zoning Map of India, about 30% of Delhi falls under Zone V (Very High Risk), while the rest falls under Zone IV (High Risk).

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