Explained: Why Delhi Faces High Risk Of Earthquakes
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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A strong earthquake hit Delhi on Monday morning (Feb 17) and the tremors were felt across north India
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The quake was of 4.0 magnitude and hit at a depth of about 5 km, according to the National Centre of Seismology
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Such earthquakes are not unusual in Delhi due to its geographic location
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The city has been rocked by frequent tremors in the past - in 2020, at least three earthquakes above 3.0 magnitude hit the national capital, followed by a dozen aftershocks
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Delhi is located in the Seismic Zone IV, which has a higher risk of earthquakes, according to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority
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This zone has a fairly high seismicity where earthquakes generally occur in the range of 5-6 magnitude, and even 7-8 occasionally
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An analysis by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has found that the national capital also faces a threat due to other factors
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These factors include the high number of non-earthquake resilient buildings, high population density, unplanned and unsafe structures, and congested areas
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According to the Vulnerability Atlas of India (1997), for shaking intensity VIII, Delhi has a high damage risk for 6.5% of houses and a moderate damage risk for over 85% houses
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ndtv.com