From seismicity point of view, the state of Himachal Pradesh which forms a part of NW Himalayas is very sensitive. During the last century the state has been shaken by a number of micro as well as macro earthquakes. A number of damaging earthquakes has struck the state and the adjoining parts of Punjab,U.P. and J& K. Some of the prominent earthquakes that rocked the state are Kangra earthquake 1905(M=8.0) in which 18,815 people were killed, Kinnaur earthquake 1975 (M=6.7) in which 60 people lost their lives and Dharamshala earthquake 1986 (M5.7). Besides these major earthquakes the state has been rocked by about 250 earthquakes with magnitude 4.0 and 62 earthquakes with magnitude more than 5.0 . As per the earthquake hazard map of state , the areas falling in districts Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Hamirpur Bilaspur are very sensitive as they fall in Very High Damage Risk Zone (MSK IX or More) i. e. Zone V, where as the rest of the areas falls in High Damage Risk Zone (MSK VIII). Some of the major devastating earthquake that have rocked the state during the last century are as per table below.
|
Date |
Locations Affected |
Magnitude |
Damage |
|
4th April
1905 |
Kangra |
7.8 |
20,000 people
died |
|
1st June 1945
|
Chamba |
6.5 |
NA |
|
19th January,
1975 |
Kinnaur |
6.8 |
60 people
died |
|
26th April
1986 |
Dharamshala
|
5.5 |
6 people
died |
|
1st April
1994 |
Chamba |
4.5 |
|
|
24th March
1995 |
Chamba |
4.9 |
Fearsome
shaking |
|
29th July
1997 |
Sundernagar |
5 |
Damage to about
1000 houses |