Earthquakes of magnitudes 3.0 to 4.9 have increased in India between 2020 and 2024 compared to the period from 2015 to 2019, Minister of State for Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha on March 12.
Responding to a question by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee on whether earthquake activity had risen in recent years, Singh said, “Earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 to 4.9 have increased from 2020 to 2024 compared to 2015-2019, indicating stress release and not allowing an accumulation of strain energy sufficiently for more earthquakes with magnitude beyond 5.0 and above, which have remained more or less the same across different durations.”
Rise in Earthquake Activity
According to data from the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES):
- Earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 to 3.9 increased from 1,224 (2015-2019) to 3,205 (2020-2024).
- Earthquakes of magnitude 3.9 to 4.9 increased from 1,663 (2010-2014) to 2,203 (2015-2019) and 2,408 (2020-2024).
However, Singh clarified that there has been no change in seismic zones due to increased seismicity. The seismic hazard zonation map of India, as per the Bureau of Indian Standards, categorizes the country into four zones:
- Zone V: Most seismically active
- Zone IV and III: Moderate risk
- Zone II: Least risk
Government Measures for Seismic Safety
The government has taken various steps to improve earthquake detection and preparedness:
- Expansion of the National Seismic Network with additional seismic stations and observatories for real-time earthquake monitoring.
- Updated building codes and construction guidelines based on seismic microzonation studies to enhance earthquake resistance.
- Special focus on high-risk zones (IV and V) and moderate-risk zones (II and III) to ensure better earthquake preparedness.
Singh emphasized that the seismic zoning system is crucial for risk assessment, land-use planning, and ensuring that construction practices align with the seismic risk levels of different regions.
The increase in low-to-moderate magnitude earthquakes highlights the need for continuous monitoring and preparedness to mitigate potential risks associated with larger earthquakes in the future.
Sources By Agencies