Major Earthquake in Dharchula Area Imminent

In News

Scientists warn of a major earthquake in Dharchula region.

In-Detail

  • Scientists warn of a major earthquake in the Dharchula region in Uttarakhand and adjoining areas of Kumaon Himalaya.
  • The Scientists are from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology.
  • They have recorded large concentrations of micro and moderate magnitude earthquakes at Dharchula which signals that a major earthquake is imminent in the region.
  • The Dharchua region is about 45km from the new Kailash Mansarovar road in Uttarakand to Lipu Lekh on the China border.
  • Scientists say that the concentrations are due to the stress release building in the region and the near future, there may be an earthquake of high magnitude.
  • This region is known as Centre Seismic Gap (CSG) region as this region has not experienced an earthquake of magnitude more than 8.0 in the past 100 years.
  • In 1905, the Kangra earthquake and Bihar-Nepal earthquake in 1905 had experienced major earthquakes.
  • The CSG is used to denote an area with small tectonic activity.
  • In past a considerable number of moderate and strong earthquakes in the CGS region of the Kumaon Central Himalayan belt.
  • Scientists built a seismological network of 15 broadband stations along the valley of river Kali.
  • This is to study the subsurface configuration and frequently causes of earthquakes in the Kumaon Himalayan region.
  • The study was supported by the Ministry of Earth Scientists.

Dharchula Region

  • The Dharchula region is between two knee-like structures which can trap the stress in the region.
  • This is the main region why there have been crowded earthquakes in a span of years.
  • The stress keeps up building in this region and fewer smaller earthquakes have occurred in this region.
  • As the stress id building continuously, scientists believe that there is a possibility of high magnitude earthquake of 8 on the Richter scale may occur. 
  • Scientists say that it is impossible to predict the scale and exact time when an earthquake will occur.

Scientists started investigating and mapping the region because of the crowded earthquake.         

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