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January 28, 2019

Faultlines surface, Bengaluru more prone to low-intensity quakes

BENGALURU: Bengaluru region is not safe from earthquakes. Arkavati plate, on which the city and surrounding districts sit, has developed active faults,
leaving the region at the risk of earthquakes. Such quakes will be of very low magnitude.Ramesh Dikpal, a scientist in the earthquake division of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), told TOI the development of faults by the Arkavati plate has been confirmed by an analysis of recent seismic hazard map from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

“Our centre with 14 stations has been monitoring seismic activities in Karnataka in the past decade. Recordings in Bengaluru and surrounding districts come from the observatory at Tippagondanahalli dam site. Every few months, we hear anecdotes of micro-tremors. The latest seismic activity recorded was at Channapatna in 2017, and at Kanakapura in 2014. Both were of a very low magnitude. There was no damage at all,” he added

Scientist Ramesh Dikpal said Hosadurga belt of Chitradurga has also developed faultlines, resulting in low-magnitude quakes over the past few years. “On November 13, 2018, a 1.6-magnitude quake was recorded at our Chitradurga observatory. In 2013, Chitradurga recorded seven quakes, and one with 2.5 magnitude had its epicentre at Sigehatti village,” he added.

KSNDMC experts said the seismic hazard map of India puts Karnataka in Zone II (least active) and Zone III (moderate). “Coastal and northern-interior districts bordering Maharashtra are in Zone III, and the rest, including Bengaluru, lie in Zone II. In the recent studies, several active faults have been
identified in Chitradurga, Bhatkal, Udupi and Bengaluru region. Much of the seismic activity in Karnataka has been in the south, especially in the Bengaluru-Mysuru region, in the recent years. Historically, tremors have occurred in many other parts of the state such as Ballari,” an expert said.


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KSNDMC director GS Srinivasa Reddy said geological activities are on the rise in several parts of the world. “Proximity to faults does not translate into ahigher hazard. Damage from earthquakes depends on numerous factors — subsurface geology and adherence to the building codes,” Reddy added.

August tremors in Bengaluru due to quarry effect?

Tremors that created panic in RR Nagar, Kengeri and neighbouring areas of Bengaluru in August 2018 could be due to blasting at stone quarries. KSNDMC scientists said their observatory at TG Halli didn’t record any tremors at that time. In April 2017, residents of RR Nagar, Kengeri and
Bannerghatta Road had experienced similar tremors, spreading panic.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/faultlines-surface-bengaluru-more-prone-to-low-intensity-quakes/articleshow/67717010.cms