Earthquake - prone areas of the country have been identified on
the basis of scientific inputs relating to seismicity, earthquakes occurred in
the past and tectonic setup of the region. Based on these inputs, Bureau of
Indian Standards [IS 1893 (Part I):2002], has grouped the country into four
seismic zones, viz. Zone II, III, IV and V. Of these, Zone V is seismically the
most active region, while zone II is the least. Broadly, Zone - V comprises
entire northeastern India, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttaranchal, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, part of North Bihar and Andaman &
Nicobar Islands. Zone - IV covers remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir and
Himachal Pradesh, National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, Sikkim, Northern
Parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, parts of Gujarat and small
portions of Maharashtra near the west coast and Rajasthan. Zone – III comprises
Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep islands, remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and
West Bengal, Parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka.
Zone - II covers remaining parts of country.
National Centre of Seismology (NCS) has installed a number of
Seismic and Global Positioning System (GPS) stations across major faults to
monitor the seismicity and crustal movement of the Indian subcontinent.
NCS maintains a National Seismological Network (NSN) for real time
monitoring of earthquake activities in and around the country. The NSN now
consists of 84 state-of-art digital broadband seismograph stations with VSAT
commutations facilities for real time monitoring and auto location of earthquakes
in and around the country. This system has latest tools for dissemination of
earthquake information to the concerned disaster management authorities and
other user agencies in least possible time (8-10minutes) for relief and rescue
operations in hour of need.
Under the Koyna Deep Borehole programme, studies have been
initiated to carry out scientific investigations for deep borehole drilling in
the Koyna-Warna region. The investigations include, Seismological, Geophysical
(seismic, gravity, magnetic), LIDAR, geomorphology and structural geological
studies, apart from a few exploratory boreholes.
Change of ground water table and other anthropological activities
and their influence on earthquake occurrence, have been studied in various
regions of the world including Indian region. This process may only trigger an
earthquake but it may not cause an earthquake on a fault. Thus, in any case,
the main cause of earthquake occurrence is tectonic forces.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Earth Sciences and other state Disaster Management
Authorities, have taken up various initiatives to educate and enhance awareness
amongst general public and school children on the general
aspects of earthquakes, their impacts and measures to mitigate
losses caused by them.
A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is also functional under
the general superintendence, direction and control of the NDMA for the purpose
of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters. Markets, schools,
hospitals and Railway and Bus stations, airports etc. are regularly sensitized
by organising mock drills and information dissemination relating to evacuation
and steps to be taken during rescue and relief operations.
*****
RDS/nb
No comments:
Post a Comment