NEW DELHI, May 22: Can any Indian now even afford to dream of another disaster amidst Covid-19 and cyclone Amphan?
The question is if that really happens, whether country’s disaster response mechanism is equipped to tackle the ‘unwelcome.’
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS), while scrutinising four earthquakes in Delhi in a month, recently said a greater quake risk lies closer to the Himalayan region.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), presently engaged in cyclone-ravaged Bengal, has been alerted about the NCS’ observations- another challenge to the National Disaster Response Mechanism (NDRM).
According to J L Gautam, head (operations) at NCS, said, “Delhi is not considered a high seismological risk zone. But a greater risk lies towards the Himalayan region.
Mr Gautam also pointed out towards the recent Nepal earthquake as an indicator that seismic stress was building up in the region.
The NCS head, however, maintained ” We are alert about the quake risk, and are adopting all required strategies.”
All four of Delhi’s recent earthquakes in a month, which first began on April 12 have been of 3.5 magnitude or less, with the latest being only 2.2 on the scale.
The series of minor tremors originating in Delhi recently has led to fears of a bigger one hitting the region.
Particularly so because some studies abroad point to the possibility of low-intensity earthquakes preceding a bigger one.
A study by USA’s Los Alamos National Laboratory has found smaller quakes were recorded days or weeks before earthquakes of at least magnitude 4.0 struck California.
Led by author Daniel Trugman, the study analysed data from South California of at least 4.0 magnitude earthquakes between 2008 and 2017, and found that some 72% of these were preceded by smaller quakes. (UNI)
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