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Earthquake Hazards

Earthquake Hazards

From seismicity point of view, the state of Himachal Pradesh which forms a part of NW Himalayas is very sensitive. During the last century the state has been shaken by a number of micro as well as macro earthquakes. A number of damaging earthquakes has struck the state and the adjoining parts of Punjab,U.P. and J& K. Some of the prominent earthquakes that rocked the state are Kangra earthquake 1905(M=8.0) in which 18,815 people were killed, Kinnaur earthquake 1975 (M=6.7) in which 60 people lost their lives and Dharamshala earthquake 1986 (M5.7). Besides these major earthquakes the state has been rocked by about 250 earthquakes with magnitude 4.0 and 62 earthquakes with magnitude more than 5.0 . As per the earthquake hazard map of state , the areas falling in districts Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Hamirpur Bilaspur are very sensitive as they fall in Very High Damage Risk Zone (MSK IX or More) i. e. Zone V, where as the rest of the areas falls in High Damage Risk Zone (MSK VIII). Some of the major devastating earthquake that have rocked the state during the last century are as per table below.

Date Locations Affected Magnitude Damage
4th April 1905 Kangra 7.8

20,000 people died
53,000 domestic animals perished
1,00,000 houses destroyed
Economic cost of recovery 2.9 million rupees

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