Delhi-NCR’s Growing Earthquake Risk: Why Experts Warn of Bigger Quakes Ahead
Delhi-NCR faces rising earthquake risks. Find out why experts fear a more fatal quake in the future, what fault lines are active, and how Delhi’s soil conditions worsen the threat.
New Delhi: Around 9.04 am, strong earthquake tremors shook the Delhi-NCR region, making people in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and other nearby areas scared. The latest quake, which was 4.4 on the Richter scale and started near Jhajjar, didn't do much damage, but it has made people worry again that the city is becoming more vulnerable to a much bigger earthquake.
Experts say that these smaller quakes may not seem dangerous, but they are signs that greater seismic stress is building up under the area, making a big earthquake not only possible but also more likely.
Why an even stronger earthquake could happen in Delhi in the future
Delhi is in Seismic Zone IV, which means it is in an area that is very likely to be damaged by earthquakes. The city is close to the Himalayan seismic belt, which is a very busy area where the Indian tectonic plate is pushing hard into the Eurasian plate. This constant collision saves a lot of tectonic energy, which is sometimes released by earthquakes.
Delhi is not usually the epicenter, but there are active fault lines all around it, such as the Mahendragarh-Dehradun Fault, the Sohna Fault, and the Delhi-Hardwar Ridge. Because they are close to the surface, these faults can cause weak intraplate quakes, which shake the surface more and do more damage.
Even scarier is the fact that scientists say the area hasn't had a big earthquake in decades. This means that pressure is building up underground, just like it did before devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Nepal.
The conditions on the ground in Delhi make it worse
It's not just the geography that makes it dangerous. An important part of Delhi is built on soft river soil, which makes earthquakes stronger. This means that the same earthquake can feel a lot stronger in Delhi than in places that are built on hard rock. If there were a bigger quake, these conditions could cause many buildings to fall down, especially ones that weren't built well.
A Very Important Wake-Up Call
Over the last few years, there have been more and stronger low-magnitude tremors in Delhi. Experts say these could be signs of a bigger event to come. If things aren't done right away, like making sure building rules are followed for earthquake safety, improving infrastructure, and letting people know what's going on, the capital might not be ready for what might happen.
