Home ministry experts warn of higher intensity earthquakes in Himalayan region

The NIDM has warned of increased risk around the "ring of fire garlanding the entire north India, especially the mountains".
Home ministry experts warn of higher intensity earthquakes in Himalayan region
Home ministry experts warn of higher intensity earthquakes in Himalayan region
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Disaster management experts of the Union home ministry have warned of high intensity earthquakes, measuring 8.2 or greater on the Richter scale, in the Himalayan region, The Times of India reported. 

The TOI report states, "They (experts) say quakes with a higher intensity than the one that struck Manipur on Monday are likely to rock the region in the future. The tectonic shift a series of recent earthquakes have caused in the region -Manipur, 6.7 (2016), Nepal, 7.3 (2015) and Sikkim, 6.9 (2011) -has again ruptured plates that had already developed cracks during previous temblors. This has led to conditions which might trigger multiple earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 8.0."

In a disaster assessment conducted after the devastating Nepal earthquake in 2015, the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has warned of increased risk around the "ring of fire garlanding the entire north India, especially the mountains".

NIDM director Santosh Kumar told the TOI that the Centre has discussed with the states in the north east region to have a common building code which will be different from the rest of the country, adds the report. 

Manipur was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 on the Richter scale on Monday, which claimed at least 8 lives besides causing significant destruction. 

The North-east region is located in Zone V or "very severe intensity zone" and has been struck by "at least 18 severe earthquakes measuring above 7 on the Richter scale in the last 100 years," The Indian Express reported. 

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