North India Statesman
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Shimla, December 15: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has recently included Himachal Pradesh in earthquake prone zone six. In such a situation, the risk of earthquake has increased in the entire state. Meanwhile, the earth shook due to mild earthquake in Mandi district of the state on Monday.
The earthquake was felt at 1:21 pm. This frightened people for a few moments. However, it is a matter of relief that no loss of life or property has been reported from anywhere.
According to the National Center for Seismology, the intensity of the earthquake was recorded at 3.1 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Mandi region at 31.39 degrees north latitude and 77.24 degrees east longitude. Its depth was about five kilometers below the ground surface. Due to its shallow depth, the earthquake’s tremors were felt in the surrounding areas, but due to its low intensity, its impact remained limited to a limited extent.
The State Disaster Management Authority has also clarified that no reports of damage have been received from Mandi, Shimla or any surrounding areas.
Let us tell you that for the last few years, mild earthquake tremors are being felt from time to time in different districts of Himachal Pradesh. The intensity of these earthquakes has mostly been between three to four. According to experts, such small earthquakes are a sign of geological activities in the Himalayan region, but the possibility of causing major damage is less.
Himachal Pradesh is one of the most sensitive states of the country in terms of earthquake. Most of the state was earlier placed in Seismic Zone-4 and Zone-5, where the risk of earthquake is considered high.
Recently, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has released a new national map of earthquake hazard. In this, the entire Himachal Pradesh has been included in a new and highest seismic category Zone-6. With this, Himachal will now be counted among the most dangerous earthquake prone areas of the country.
In the earlier map, Himachal was divided into different parts. Some areas of Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Kullu, Hamirpur and Kinnaur were kept in Zone-5, while districts like Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Una, Bilaspur and Lahaul-Spiti were included in Zone-4. The new map eliminates this division and places the entire state uniformly in the highest risk zone.
According to BIS, this map has been prepared on the basis of advanced scientific studies and probable seismic risk assessment.
History is witness to the fact that Himachal has suffered huge losses due to earthquake. In the year 1905, more than 10 thousand people lost their lives in the devastating earthquake that occurred in Kangra and Chamba regions.
