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Earthquake Preparedness in India
India is developing a system to predict earthquakes’ deadly S-waves
Context: India is working on an advanced early-warning system to detect destructive secondary waves (S-waves) during earthquakes, aiming to provide critical lead time for saving lives and protecting infrastructure.
What are the primary causes and impacts of earthquakes in India, as outlined by the National Disaster Management Authority?
- Tectonic Plate Movements: India lies at the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Indian plate is moving northward, colliding with the Eurasian plate, causing immense stress and frequent seismic activity.
- Himalayan Subduction Zone: The Himalayan region is especially prone to great earthquakes (magnitude >8.0) due to ongoing subduction. Over 90% of casualties in past Indian earthquakes were due to building collapses. Poor compliance with seismic codes exacerbates this risk.
- Intraplate Faults in Peninsular India: Though considered stable, regions like Koyna (1967), Killari (1993), and Bhadrachalam (1969) have experienced damaging quakes due to the reactivation of ancient faults.
- Human-Induced Triggers: Activities like mining, dam impoundment, and reservoir-induced seismicity also contribute to localised earthquakes. Earthquakes disrupt transportation, communication, and utilities, leading to long-term economic setbacks.
How does Japan’s advanced earthquake prediction system utilise secondary waves to mitigate destruction, and what lessons can India learn from it?
- Japan, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is a global leader in seismic preparedness due to its advanced Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS), operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) since 2007.
- This system leverages over 4,200 seismometers and seismic intensity meters to detect primary waves (P-waves), which travel faster than the more destructive secondary waves (S-waves).
- By identifying P-waves, the system provides alerts via smartphones, TV, radio, and loudspeakers seconds before S-waves arrive, allowing critical actions like stopping trains, halting surgeries, or seeking shelter.
- Lessons for India: Japan’s extensive seismic monitoring network provides a model for India to expand its National Seismic Network for real-time P-wave detection.
- Public Alert Systems: Integrating EWS with mobile apps like Japan’s Disaster Message Board Service could enhance India’s ‘India Quake’ app for timely alerts.
- Resilient Infrastructure: Enforcing seismic codes and retrofitting critical structures, as Japan does, can mitigate India’s vulnerability to S-waves.
What are the current challenges and advancements in India’s earthquake prediction and disaster management systems?
India faces significant challenges in earthquake prediction and disaster management, but recent advancements signal progress toward resilience.
Challenges:
- High Seismic Vulnerability: 59% of India’s landmass is prone to moderate to severe earthquakes. Regions like the Himalayas, Northeast, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands fall under Seismic Zone V, the most hazardous.
- Weak Enforcement of Building Codes: Despite updated codes, enforcement remains lax, especially in smaller towns and informal settlements. Retrofitting of vulnerable structures is slow and underfunded.
- Limited Public Awareness: Earthquake preparedness is not deeply embedded in public consciousness. Emergency drills and education campaigns are sporadic and regionally limited.
Recent Advancements:
- Expanded Seismic Monitoring: India increased its seismic observatories from 80 in 2014 to 168 by 2025, improving real-time detection and data coverage.
- BhooKamp App: Launched by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), this app provides real-time earthquake alerts to citizens, enhancing public preparedness.
- Simplified Building Codes: Updated in 2021 to reduce technical complexity, making it easier for builders and local authorities to comply, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
- Institutional Framework: The Disaster Management Act (2005) established NDMA, NDRF, and SDMAs for coordinated disaster response and risk reduction.
How can integrating global best practices, like those from Japan, enhance India’s preparedness and response to seismic events?
- Dense Seismic Networks: India can emulate Japan’s dense sensor network by expanding its National Seismic Network with MEMS sensors and IoT-based frameworks, as piloted in the Garhwal region. This would provide 30–70 seconds of lead time in the Himalayas for S-wave warnings.
- Robust Building Codes: Japan’s Shin-Taishin regulations and base isolation techniques can guide India’s BIS codes (e.g., IS 4326) and retrofitting programs, especially in Seismic Zones IV and V.
- Community Engagement: Japan’s culture of preparedness, with regular drills and evacuation planning, can be replicated through NDMA’s awareness campaigns and school curricula.
- Multi-Hazard Approach: The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake highlighted the need for multi-hazard planning (e.g., tsunamis, landslides). India’s 2016 NDMP can incorporate similar strategies to address secondary hazards.
Difference Between P-Waves, S-Waves, and L-Waves
- P-Waves (Primary Waves): Fastest seismic waves (~6–7 km/s), compress and expand materials, travel through solids, liquids, and gases. Detected first by seismographs, they cause initial jolts but minimal damage.
- S-Waves (Secondary Waves): Slower than P-waves (~3–4 km/s), move perpendicular to wave direction, travel only through solids. Causes severe side-to-side shaking, responsible for most structural damage.
- L-Waves (Surface Waves): Slowest waves travel along Earth’s surface, including Love and Rayleigh waves. Most destructive due to prolonged shaking, causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
