An earthquake is trembling of the Earth’s surface resulting from a sudden release of energy within the Earth’s lithosphere that makes seismic waves.

Huge earthquakes usually occur near the connection of two tectonic plates, e.g. along the Himalayan range where the Indian plate goes below the Eurasian plate.

The Indian subcontinent is found on the boundaries of two continental plates and hence it incredibly causes earthquakes.

India is separated into four seismic zones in step with the most intensity of the earthquake expected.

The broad base of the zones is as follows:

Zone V:

This is the best active and severe seismic zone and is brought up here because of the Very High Damage Risk Zone.

Zone V is the most active zone which comprises Northeast India, the northern portion of Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The entire Himalayan Region is taken into account to be prone to high-intensity earthquakes of a magnitude which exceeds 8.0 on the graduated table.

Intensity is measured as 9 on the MM scale.

Zone IV:

This is said because of the High Damage Risk Zone.

Intensity is measured as 8 on the MM scale.

Zone III:

This is termed a moderate Damage Risk Zone.

Intensity is measured as 7 on the MM scale.

Zone II:

This zone is stated because of the Low Damage Risk Zone.

Intensity lies but or up to 6 on the MM scale.

Earthquake Prevention and Mitigation

The pace of urbanization in India is continually increasing. Many cities and townships including the capital of recent Delhi, are located in zones of high seismic risk.

Normally, the bulk of the constructions in these cities are basically not earthquake resilient. Regulatory mechanisms are weak, thus any earthquake striking in one in every of these cities would be converted into a serious disaster.

The following measures are initiated for the prevention and mitigation of such disasters:

National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project

1. The proposed project aims to strengthen structural and nonstructural earthquake alleviation efforts and reduce the vulnerability within the high-risk districts disposed to earthquakes.
2. Necessary risk moderation measures are proposed to be put in situ within the extreme seismic zones.
3. Proposed components of the project comprise the techno-legal regime, institutional strengthening, capacity building and public awareness etc.

National code (NBC)

• A complete code may be a national instrument providing guidelines to manage building construction activities across the country
• NBC was for the primary time published in 1970 at the instance of the Look Commission, the revised NBC is now brought out because of the National code of India 2005 (NBC 2005)

The salient features of the revised NBC include meeting the challenges posed by natural calamities and reflecting the state-of-the-art and contemporary applicable international practices.

Efforts by Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC)

• The BMTPC undertook projects to retrofit lifeline arrangements for generating awareness among the general public and various government agencies about the requirements and techniques of retrofitting
• The experience on these retrofitted buildings is aimed to assist people at large and therefore the policymakers specifically in working towards reducing the vulnerability just in case of future earthquakes

Six pillars of earthquake management given by the National Institution for Disaster Management (NIDM):

• Ensure the incorporation of earthquake-resistant designing features for the development of recent structures
• In earthquake-prone areas, facilitate selective strengthening and seismic retrofitting of existing priority and lifeline structures
• Improve the attention and preparedness of all stakeholders in handling earthquakes
• Improve the compliance regime through appropriate regulation and enforcement
• Introduce suitable capacity development interventions (of all stakeholders) for effective earthquake management (including education, training, R&D, and documentation)
• Strengthen the emergency response capability in earthquake-prone areas

Conclusion

The earthquake is formed when the earth surface trembles from a sudden release of energy within the earth’s lithosphere that makes seismic waves. The zone mapping of earthquakes represents the earthquake prone areas. This serves as the guide while construction. Hence can save the potential damage  from the earthquake. India is separated into four seismic zones. Zone V is the best active and severe seismic zone and is brought up here because of the Very High Damage Risk Zone. Zone V is the most active zone which comprises Northeast India, the northern portion of Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Zone IV is the High Damage Risk Zone. Intensity is measured as 8 on the MM scale. Zone III is termed a moderate Damage Risk Zone. Intensity is measured as 7 on the MM scale. Zone is stated because of the Low Damage Risk Zone. Intensity lies but or up to 6 on the MM scale. For prevention and mitigation of earthquakes, various projects have been initiated by the government, such as the National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project. The proposed project aims to strengthen structural and nonstructural earthquake alleviation efforts and reduce the vulnerability within the high-risk districts disposed to earthquakes. Necessary risk moderation measures are proposed to be put in situ within the extreme seismic zones. Proposed components of the project comprise the techno-legal regime, institutional strengthening, capacity building and public awareness etc.