GEOSEISMOLOGY AND SEISMOTECTONIC STUDIES

• D.Oldham of GSI, was the founder of modern seismology, whose systematic account of the Great Assam Earthquake (1897) is the first well recorded earthquake of the world. Since then GSI was actively involved in scientific records and studies whenever earthquake broke out in any parts of India or adjacent areas.

• After independence, GSI took a stride by providing inputs for aseismic design of major civil engineering projects specially in the seismically active sub-Himalayan region.

• In 1986, a separate division was set up at Lucknow (NR) and identified as a Centre for Geoseismology & seismotectonic Studies. Subsequently sub-centres were set-up in eastern and north-eastern regions,. Later, after the devastating earthquake at Killari in 1993 two more centres were set-up at Hyderabad (SR) and Nagpur (CR) for seismotectonic evaluation of peninsular India. All those units are collecting and monitoring the data related to Geoseismicity.

• Updating of earthquake data base is maintained in Geodata division of CHQ.

• Mapping of neotectonic elements have been thrusted on the Regions and observations stations for recording microseismicity have been fixed up. 19 analog MEQ machines are ready to work in different stations.

• Neotectonic and seismic hazard studies in parts of Assam has been well concluded.

• Macroseismic survey for the recent earthquake at Jabalpur carried out.

• Seismotectonic Atlas of India and its environs has been published in September, 2000. In the context of the devastating earthquake in Bhuj, Gujarat, on 26.1.2001, a portion of seismotectonic Map of the area is reproduced from this publication
• Khandwa Telemetered Seismic Network (KTSN), is being established in Madhya Pradesh at the behest of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
(download pdf)
• Macroseismic survey carried out by GSI for a number of post earthquakes damage has been summerized and in the form of GSI Special Publication.
• Sumatra Andaman Earthquake and Tsunami 2004... details
• Kashmir Earthquake 2005 .....details Full Report
• Sikkim Earthquake 2006 .... Report

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  The first seismic zoning map of India was compiled by the Geological Survey of India in 1935. The map was based on the extent of the damage suffered in a particular region due to earthquake in the areas with an intensity higher than Rossi-Forel Intensiity VII (MM Intensity VIII). Since then a number of modifications have been made in the seismic zoning map of the country under the aegis of the Indian Bureau of Standards (BIS) as an important part of the standards for the Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures. The seismic zoning map is under revision by the BIS.

  Seismic Zoning map of India