According to seismologists, the North East being located in a high risk seismic zone can experience tremors up to the magnitude of 9 on the Richter Scale. The last two devastating earthquakes that the region faced in 1897 and 1950 measured above 8 on the Richter scale and each tremor was preceded by smaller tremors.
Going by this trend, seismological experts fear that the region might be rocked by bigger quakes after the recent smaller ones.
KA Lotha of Nagaland, a joint director heading the geo-technical wing in the Geology & Mining department of Nagaland, said there is no need to worry about a major earthquake in the near future as the recent tremors are just the releasing of stress and strains of the Tectonic plates – the Indian Plate and the Burmese Plate.
On the other hand, noted seismologist, Professor SK Sarma, a former head of the department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University had earlier predicted a great earthquake, measuring 8 or more on the Richter scale, in the NE by 2010.
Contrary to the prediction of Professor Sarma, geologist DK Barman of the Assam Directorate of Geology and Mining claimed that no major tremor is anticipated in the NE region. However, mild tremors would continue to occur in this region because of the movement of the Tectonic Plates, he said.
A major earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook earthquake-prone North-eastern India on September 21 at 2.26 pm, triggering panic in the region which experienced its fifth tremor in the last 45 days. Wide cracks on buildings in Guwahati were visible after the tremor though no casualties or injuries were reported.
The NE region, lying in the highest seismic risk zone, has experienced some of the world’s worst earthquakes. The 1897 quake that occurred in the Shillong Plateau had left 1,542 people dead.
Assam also had experienced high intensity earthquakes, one in 1897 and the other in 1950. These two earthquakes left some topographical changes in Assam, including changing the course of Brahmaputra and many major rivers in the State.
However, human casualty and damage to property were less because of less population then. But if an earthquake of high magnitude strikes Assam and the NE States now, human casualties would be much higher because population has increased manifold in comparison to 1897 and 1950. KOHIMA, Sept 24 – People in the North-eastern States have been seized with panic as a series of earthquakes rocked the region in the past couple of months. Now the question on everyone’s mind is whether the States in the North-eastern region are prepared to deal with a major disaster.
According to seismologists, the North East being located in a high risk seismic zone can experience tremors up to the magnitude of 9 on the Richter Scale. The last two devastating earthquakes that the region faced in 1897 and 1950 measured above 8 on the Richter scale and each tremor was preceded by smaller tremors.
Going by this trend, seismological experts fear that the region might be rocked by bigger quakes after the recent smaller ones.
KA Lotha of Nagaland, a joint director heading the geo-technical wing in the Geology & Mining department of Nagaland, said there is no need to worry about a major earthquake in the near future as the recent tremors are just the releasing of stress and strains of the Tectonic plates – the Indian Plate and the Burmese Plate.
On the other hand, noted seismologist, Professor SK Sarma, a former head of the department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University had earlier predicted a great earthquake, measuring 8 or more on the Richter scale, in the NE by 2010.
Contrary to the prediction of Professor Sarma, geologist DK Barman of the Assam Directorate of Geology and Mining claimed that no major tremor is anticipated in the NE region. However, mild tremors would continue to occur in this region because of the movement of the Tectonic Plates, he said.
A major earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook earthquake-prone North-eastern India on September 21 at 2.26 pm, triggering panic in the region which experienced its fifth tremor in the last 45 days. Wide cracks on buildings in Guwahati were visible after the tremor though no casualties or injuries were reported.
The NE region, lying in the highest seismic risk zone, has experienced some of the world’s worst earthquakes. The 1897 quake that occurred in the Shillong Plateau had left 1,542 people dead.
Assam also had experienced high intensity earthquakes, one in 1897 and the other in 1950. These two earthquakes left some topographical changes in Assam, including changing the course of Brahmaputra and many major rivers in the State.
However, human casualty and damage to property were less because of less population then. But if an earthquake of high magnitude strikes Assam and the NE States now, human casualties would be much higher because population has increased manifold in comparison to 1897 and 1950.
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