Avoiding earthquakes

27/03/2023

About 58% of the Indian landmass is vulnerable to earthquakes. As per the seismic zoning map of India prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards, India is divided into four zones - II, III, IV, and V. Scientists have warned of a possible major earthquake in the Himalayan state. The landmass of India exhibits large seismic events/responses, especially the Himalayan plate boundary, which has the potential for large seismic events (magnitude 7 and above). Earthquakes in India are mainly caused by the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. This convergence has resulted in the formation of the Himalayan Mountains, as well as frequent earthquakes in the region.India's policy on earthquake preparedness primarily operates on the scale of structural details. It is guided by the National Building Code. This includes specifying the dimensions of columns, beams, and details of the reinforcement that connects these elements. It ignores buildings that were constructed before such codes were published in 1962. There is a need to create a system of tax-based incentives for retrofitting existing structures and implementing seismic codes with greater efficiency. It will create a body of well-trained professionals and capable organizations.
Through social media, TV channels, and newspapers, the life and property of common people can be alerted and alerted to avoid earthquakes. The reason for not being able to save lives and property from earthquakes is also that scientists are not in a position to tell anything about the time and interval of earthquakes. When an earthquake occurs, people celebrate that they survived, but a few years pass and then they forget that an earthquake can happen again and can kill or seriously injure them. That's why it is important to be prepared to survive an earthquake both mentally and financially. We cannot escape thinking that God will do as He wills. And it is also not right to think that there is nothing in human hands. We can do all this to satisfy ourselves but to avoid natural calamities, there can be a better prevention method through awareness and mock drills.
Japan is a good example in this case. It has invested heavily in technical measures to reduce the damage caused by frequent earthquakes. Skyscrapers are built with counterweights and other high-tech provisions to reduce the effects of earthquakes. The tiny houses are built on resilient foundations, and integrated with public infrastructure with automatic triggers that cut off electricity, gas, and water lines during an earthquake. The policy should start with surveys and audits that can produce earthquake civilization maps. Using such a map, enforcement, incentive, and response centers can be distributed proportionally across urban areas.

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