A Demo report- Earthquacks in North India

No, we can not say these are fore shocks and Earthquacks can't be predicted by any of the mechanism. But North India, Delhi has suffered from 17 Earthquacks. 

 If a strong earthquake reaches, it can happen

New Delhi: The recent earthquake took place in Delhi is not pointing out towards a big event, though we can not say or predict that a strong earthquake will take place.

Delhi, the capital city of India, is bounded by the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains in the NORTH and East, by Thar desert in the West and by Aravalli hill ranges in the South. It falls under Zone - IV in the country-wide macro earthquake zone (Zone V -high intensity to Zone II - low intensity). Though it may not fall in the most seismically active region of the country, the city can still face disastrous consequences if any earthquake strikes with its epicentre anywhere in the surrounding areas such as Hindukush mountain range or the Himalayas.

A report on 'seismic hazard microzonation of Delhi' by ministry of earth sciences indicates that areas like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), AIIMS, Chhatarpur and Naraina fall under the safest zone while the high risk zone, mostly in patches, are concentrated in east, central and northern parts. Areas including Hauz Khas and Vasant Kunj are also among the low hazard zone.

The map shows that Delhi University's north campus, Sarita Vihar, Gita Colony, Shakarpur, Paschim Vihar, Wazirabad, Rithala, Rohini, Jahangirpuri, Bawana, Karol Bagh and Janakpuri fall under the 'high hazard zone' having worst category of "very high" risk index. Most of these areas are along the bank of the river Yamuna and its flood plain. On the other hand, places like IGI Airport, Hauz Khas, Burari and Najafgarh fall under second worst "high risk" index category.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake with its epicentre in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan jolted several parts of north India including Delhi-NCR on Friday. There was no immediate report of any loss of life or property due to the quake which hit at 5:13 pm.

6.8 magnitude earthquake

Highlights Delhi NCR

All the recent 17 quakes recorded in the Delhi-NCR region were of low to medium intensity on the Richter scale.

April 12 – Delhi (3.5)
April 13-Delhi (2.7)
April 16 – Delhi (2)
May 3 – Delhi (3)
May 6 – Faridabad (2.3)
May 10 – Delhi (3.4)
May 15 – Delhi (2.2)
May 28 – Faridabad (2.5)
May 29 – Rohtak (4.5 and 2.9)
June 1 – Rohtak (1.8 and 3)
June 3 – Faridabad (3.2)
June 4 – Rohtak (2.1)
June 8 – Delhi-Gurgaon border (2.1)
June 18 – Rohtak (2.1)
June 19 – Rohtak (2.3).

“Though our understanding, in terms of when, where and with how much energy (or magnitude) an earthquake can occur, is not clear, but the vulnerability of a region can be understood from the past seismicity, calculation of strain budget, mapping of active faults”.

Since an earthquake cannot be predicted by any mechanism, the tremors cannot be described as the signal of a big event.