Is Delhi Prepared for Future Earthquakes?

The trend clearly shows that Delhi is vulnerable to earthquakes and this raises serious questions on the governance of Delhi about whether its sprawling urban growth and conglomerations are prepared to withstand such future shocks.

- DR. GAURIKA CHUGH

Delhi woke up to a trembling sound in the early wee hours of 17th February. It was nothing short of a nightmare that shook everyone from their deep sleep with squawking sounds of birds and growling of dogs as if the earth is screaming out loudly to save itself from the pressures of human civilization. While the magnitude of the earthquake was 4.0, its intensity was so severe that it raises deep-seated questions about whether we are prepared to save Delhi from the future rumbling of such earthquakes?

It seriously raises questions about the governance of Delhi and its sprawling urban agglomerations and implementation of building bye laws raises concerns about the safety of Delhi. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Jheel Park area near Dhaula Kuan and the rumbling sound it made was due to its occurrence at a shallow depth of 5km which raises significant concerns and uncertainty about the future of such earthquakes. As per the preliminary report on the earthquake by the National Centre for Seismology it has revealed that there has been past seismic activity within a 50 square km radius of the epicenter and the last earthquake of such a high magnitude of 4.6 earthquake occurred on December 25, 2007. This reveals a normal pattern of seismogenesis in the past that underlines the prevalence of pre-existing stress conditions that makes it even more susceptible to future earthquakes.