Why Is Delhi Prone To Frequent Earthquakes? (image: pixabay)
New Delhi: Early Monday morning, a strong earthquake measuring 4.0 magnitude shook national capital and nearby regions. The tremors forced the residents to quickly evacuate their homes and high-rise buildings for safety.
Delhi is not unfamiliar with earthquakes due to its geographic location. The quake in Monday added to the long list of tremors and quakes the national capital has experienced in history. Last month, an earthquake of 7.1 magnitude hit Tibet’s Xizang area at 6:35 AM but its tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR.
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Why Delhi is prone to such frequent earthquakes?
India has been divided into different zones highlighting frequency of earthquakes in a particular region. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in the seismic zoning map, Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) is located in the Seismic Zone IV. The zone is prone to moderate to high levels of intense earthquakes. Since earthquakes originated beneath the city, seismic waves had less distance to travel, which makes the tremor more noticeable and intense, according to reports.
The zone division is majorly due to Delhi’s geographical position and geological activities. The national capital is situated close to the Himalayan ranges, approximately between 200-300 kilometres.
The Himalayas were formed due to the continual collision of the Indian Subcontinental plates and Eurasian tectonic plates. This tectonic activity develops to regular tremors, posing the region an epicentre for recurring natural calamities like earthquakes and landslides. Hence, the collision is liable for the significant quakes in northern parts of India, especially Delhi and its adjoining areas.
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Furthermore, Delhi sits near three active seismic fault lines namely, the Sohna fault line, the Mathura fault line and the Delhi-Moradabad fault line. Besides, the constructions in the nation capital, result in vulnerability. High-rise buildings in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad accentuates the sensation of shaking. There also reports that soft alluvial soil in Delhi plays a factor in amplifying seismic waves, and advancing the tremors.
Over the course of years, Delhi has faced several earthquakes. Since 1720, only five earthquakes measuring 5.5 and 6.7 have been recorded in Delhi and nearby areas. Usually, the earthquakes in the national capital are of magnitude 5-6 and magnitude 7-8 is an “occasional” occurrence.
