ISR's new seismic map to predict quake probability, magnitude

The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) has prepared a new seismic zone map of India which gives a more accurate picture along with probability and magnitude estimate of possible earthquakes in specific areas of the country. "The present earthquake zoning map of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has divided India into four zones, but our map, after a research work of over two years, will be more accurate and will be distinct as it will give probability of occurrences of quakes of certain magnitudes," ISR Director General B K Rastogi told PTI. The map has been prepared for the BIS. "The map prepared by us will be very helpful for installations like nuclear power plants, dams and industries, apart from helping domestic constructions," Rastogi said.

 

The BIS has a seismic zoning map of India which divides the country into four zones from two to five. Zone five is the most dangerous and outside the Himalayan faults line. Only Kutch district of Gujarat falls in Zone five, while the rest of the country is divided into other three zones.

"The BIS was trying to prepare the new map for the last 13 years from 1997. Finally, they approached us three years ago and we prepared the zoning map after two years of hard work, studying data of 35,000 earthquakes that took place in and around India, the Director General said.

"This detailed study was very important along with the study of fault line in India to give probability of earth quakes that might occur in a particular area, with their possible magnitude," he said. Apart from predicting probability of earthquakes and their possible magnitude the map prepared by ISR is more accurate. For example in the present BIS zone map, entire Kutch is shown in Zone five, while our map shows that the Southern Kutch is not in Zone five, Rastogi said.