Seismicity of Uttarakhand :

Seismic Hazard  :

The state of Uttarakhand is among the most seismically active parts of India. Many events of M5.5 or more have struck the region since 1900. The state straddles several active parallel thrust faults that form the ranges of the Himalayan mountain range. These faults have been formed in the highly folded strata of these mountains. The Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT) are the main active features in Uttarakhand. Slippage on these faults and their counterparts have in the part generated great (M>7.5) earthquakes. Since the last earthquake of this magnitude range in this region occurred more than 200 years ago, this section of the Himalayan thrust zone is believed to have the greatest potential  for a future great (M>7.5) earthquake. The region of potential danger is known as the Central Seismic Gap, and underlies Uttarakhand and western Nepal.

Smaller faults such as the Yamuna Fault near Haridwar and Alaknanda Fault near Rudraprayag have been active during the Holocene period. The plate boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates lies in southern Xizang (or Tibet) and is known as the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone. The MBT or MFT are often wrongly quoted as being the plate boundary between the Indian and Eurasian Plates. However, it must be stated that proximity to faults does not necessarily translate into a higher hazard as compared to areas located further away, as damage from earthquakes depends on numerous factors such as subsurface geology as well as adherence to the building codes.

History :

Largest Instrumented Earthquake in Uttarakhand :

19 October 1991 - Pilang-Bhatwari area, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.8 .
768 people were killed and nearly 5,000 injured in this earthquake in Uttarkashi district. Some 18,000 buildings were destroyed in the Uttarkashi-Chamoli region. Landslides and rockfalls were widespread in the Gharwal Hills. Tremors were felt over a wide area of northern India, western Nepal and Pakistan. Minor damage was reported from New Delhi and Chandigarh.

Significant Earthquakes in Uttarakhand :

The following list briefly outlines known earthquakes in this region which either had observed intensities of VII or higher (historical events) or had known magnitudes of 6.0 or more (instrumented events). General locations are provided for historical events for which "generalized" epicentral co-ordinates are available. Some events which were significant for other reasons are also included. This list will be updated whenever newer information is available

01 September 1803 - Kumaon-Gharwal area, Uttarakhand, M>7.0 :

This earthquake is believed to be one of the strongest earthquakes in this region. Between 200 - 300 were killed in this shock and several villages were buried by landslides and rockfalls. The Badrinath temple located 40 km north of Chamoli was severely damaged. Tremors were felt as far away as Kolkata. Due to liquefaction effects at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, this earthquake is often wrongly placed in the Mathura area.

26 May 1816 - Gangotri area, Uttarakhand, Ms 6.5 :

This earthquake was located south of Gangotri, in the glaciers surrounding the Badrinath peak.

16 June 1902 - Pokhra-Kainur area, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.0 :

This earthquake was located south-east of Pauri in Uttarakhand.

13 June 1906 - Gangotri area, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.1 :

This earthquake was located near Gangotri, in the glaciers surrounding the Badrinath peak. It had a surface wave magnitude (Ms) of 6.0 (4) and a moment magnitude (Mw) of 6.1 is obtained using empirical relations (1, 2). 

27 July 1926 - Near Changabang Peak, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.5 :

This earthquake was centred in the vicinity of the Changabang Peak, which lies in the vicinity of Nanda Devi National Park in Uttarakhand. It had a surface wave magnitude (Ms) of 6.5  and a moment magnitude (Mw) of 6.5 is obtained using empirical relations (1, 2). 

04 June 1945 - Near Nanda Devi Peak, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.5 :

This earthquake was centred in the vicinity of the peak Nanda Devi (elevation: 7,817 metres). It had a surface wave magnitude (Ms) of 6.5  and a moment magnitude (Mw) of 6.5 is obtained using empirical relations (1, 2). 

28 December 1958 - Rameshwar-Devi Dhura area, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.1:

This earthquake is called the Kakpot earthquake. It had a surface wave magnitude (Ms) of 6.0 and a moment magnitude (Mw) of 6.2 is obtained using empirical relations (1, 2). More than a dozen buildings collapsed .Fissures and landslides were generated in an area within 150 kilometres of Kapkote.

27 June 1966 - Athpali-Dhung area, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.2 :

This earthquake was centred in Far-western Nepal, along the border with Uttarakhand. It had a body wave magnitude (mb) of 6.0 and a moment magnitude (Mw) of 6.2 is obtained using empirical relations . 

19 October 1991 - Pilang-Bhatwari area, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.8 :

768 people were killed and nearly 5,000 injured in this earthquake in Uttarkashi district. Some 18,000 buildings were destroyed in the Uttarkashi-Chamoli region. Landslides and rockfalls were widespread in the Gharwal Hills. Tremors were felt over a wide area of northern India, western Nepal and Pakistan. Minor damage was reported from New Delhi and Chandigarh.

05 January 1997 - Dharchula area, Uttarakhand, Mw 5.6 :

Felt strongly in many parts of Uttarnchal, including Nainital, Kumaon and the Terai areas. Many people ran outdoors in panic and window panes were broken in many localities. Many houses were damaged in western Nepal and it was felt at Baitadi and Dadeldhura.

28 March 1999 - Chamoli-Pipalkoti area, Uttarakhand, Mw 6.4 :

115 people killed in the Gharwal region. The quake was felt very strongly in Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi and Haryana. In Haryana, one person was killed in the city of Ambala and 2 atNakodar in the neighbouring state of Punjab. Minor damage to buildings in New Delhi, most significantly in Patparganj. Minor damage also reported from Chandigarh.

30 March 1999 - Chamoli-Pipalkoti area, Uttarakhand, ML 4.9 :

50 people were injured in this tremor which was an aftershock of the event on 28 March 1999. Several buildings developed further cracks and many damaged houses at Maithana village collapsed. At Barai in Chamoli district, 20 houses collapsed and 11 developed cracks, while at Kotiyal 4 houses collapsed and 85 developed cracks. Some damage was also reported from Rudraprayag district. This event had a a magnitude of Mb 5.2 (6).

31 March 1999 - Chamoli-Pipalkoti area, Uttarakhand, Mc 3.0 :

1 person was killed and several injured in a house collapsed at Hat Pipalkot in Chamoli district. Felt at Chamoli and Rudryaprayag.

27 May 2003 - Bangina region, Uttarakhand, Mb 5.0 :

A moderate earthquake struck the Gharwal Himalayas on 27 May 2003 at 09:53 AM local time. It had a magnitude of Mb=5.0 and was felt widely in the region.


14 December 2005 - Pokhri-Gopeshwar region, Uttarakhand, Mb 5.0 :

A moderate earthquake struck the Gharwal region of Uttarakhand, on 14 December 2005 at 12:39 causing mior damage to property in some parts of Uttarakhand. The earthquake had a magnitude of Mb=5.0 and was felt at many places in Uttarakhand as well as in Delhi. 

5 August 2006 - Thal area, eastern Uttarakhand, Mb 4.4 :

A light earthquake struck the Nepal-India border, on 5 August 2006 at 07:33 causing damage to property in parts of eastern Uttarakhand, India. The earthquake had a magnitude of Mb=4.4 and was felt at many places in Uttarakhand and surprising as far as Delhi. 

22 July 2007 - Surka Ridge, Uttarakhand, Mb 5.0 :

A moderate earthquake struck the Yamnotri region in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, on 22 July 2007 at 04:32 UTC causing a few injuries and minor damage to property in parts of Uttarakhand, India. The earthquake had a magnitude of Mb=5.0 and was felt at many places in Uttarakhand and adjoining parts of north India.

         Himalaya is an active mountain chain because Indian plate which is fractured and incoherent is dynamic and moving. In Uttarakhand tremors of 4 to 4.5 magnitude have become common occurances every year. For a state like Uttarakhand, which is located in the seismically active Himalayan region and in the vicinity of plate boundaries, estimation of seismic hazards and the preparation of a zoning map are an urgent necessity.