Describe Earthquake Belts in India

Earthquakes are natural events that occur when the surface of the Earth shakes because of sudden movements inside the crust. These movements happen mainly along faults, cracks, and weak zones of the Earth. Earthquakes can cause great damage to life, property, and the environment. Some are so small that people cannot feel them, while others are very strong and can destroy entire towns.

India is a country where earthquakes are not new. In fact, several strong earthquakes have taken place here in the past. The reason is that India is located in a special geological position. The Indian plate is moving and pushing against the Eurasian plate in the north. This collision is responsible for the formation of the Himalayas and also for many earthquakes. Because of this, certain parts of India are very prone to earthquakes. These areas are known as earthquake belts. we will describe the earthquake belts in India, their distribution, why they are important, and what dangers they bring.

Earthquake Zones of India

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has divided India into four seismic zones depending on the possibility of earthquakes. These zones are:

1.Zone II – Low risk area

2.Zone III – Moderate risk area

3.Zone IV – High risk area

4.Zone V – Very high risk area

Zone V is the most dangerous.
Zone II is the safest.

Most earthquake belts of India lie in Zones IV and V.

Main Earthquake Belts in India

There are four major earthquake belts in India. These belts are regions where earthquakes occur most frequently and with higher intensity.

1. The Himalayan Belt

This is the most active earthquake belt in India. It covers the entire Himalayan region and the foothills. It stretches from Jammu and Kashmir in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east.

Why it happens: The Indian plate is still moving northward and pressing against the Eurasian plate. This pressure creates faults and cracks, leading to frequent earthquakes.
Areas affected: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and all of Northeast India.

Examples of past earthquakes:

1905 Kangra earthquake (Himachal Pradesh) – very destructive.
1934 Bihar–Nepal earthquake – thousands of lives lost.
1950 Assam earthquake – one of the strongest in India.

This belt is considered to be part of Seismic Zone V, which is the most dangerous zone.

2. The Indo–Burmese Belt

This belt lies in the northeastern part of India, along the border with Myanmar (Burma). It includes Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and parts of Assam.

Why it happens: This region is squeezed between the Indian plate and the Burmese plate, which creates high seismic activity.
Areas affected: Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and southern Assam.
Past earthquakes:

1988 Manipur earthquake.
2016 Manipur earthquake again caused damage.

This belt is also included in Seismic Zone V.

3. The Indo–Gangetic Belt

This belt covers the plains of north India, from Punjab to West Bengal and even Bihar. Although the plains look calm, the underground layers are weak because they are close to the Himalayas.

Why it happens: The plains were formed by rivers bringing sediments from the Himalayas. The ground is soft and unstable, so even small earthquakes from the Himalayas are strongly felt here.
Areas affected: Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Past earthquakes:

1934 Bihar earthquake (part of this belt).
2015 Nepal earthquake was strongly felt in Delhi and UP.

Most parts of this belt lie in Seismic Zone IV.

4. The Peninsular Belt

Unlike the Himalayas, the peninsular region of India is very old and stable. But still, earthquakes do happen here, though less often. These are called intra-plate earthquakes, meaning they happen inside the plate, not on its boundary.

Why it happens: Even though the land is stable, some weak zones and faults exist inside the Indian plate. Stress builds up and releases suddenly, causing earthquakes.
Areas affected: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Past earthquakes:

1819 Kutch earthquake in Gujarat.
1993 Latur earthquake in Maharashtra.
2001 Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat – caused massive loss of life and property.

This belt mainly falls under Seismic Zone III, but some parts like Kutch (Gujarat) are in Zone V.

Other Local Earthquake-Prone Areas

Apart from these four major belts, there are smaller regions that also face earthquakes:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: These islands are located near the boundary of the Indian and Burmese plates. They are highly earthquake-prone and also face the risk of tsunamis.
Delhi region: Although not inside the Himalayas, Delhi has experienced many tremors due to its closeness to the Himalayan belt.

Why Earthquake Belts are Important

Studying earthquake belts is very important for a country like India.

1.Safety of people: Knowing earthquake belts helps in preparing better safety measures.

2.Urban planning: Cities in high-risk zones must have earthquake-resistant buildings.

3.Disaster management: Quick response teams can be placed in earthquake belts to reduce loss.

4.Education: People living in earthquake belts should be trained about what to do when earthquakes strike.

Measures to Reduce Risk

Even though earthquakes cannot be stopped, their effects can be reduced. Some important measures are:

Strong building codes: Houses and offices in Zones IV and V must be built with earthquake-resistant materials.
Emergency drills: Schools and offices should conduct earthquake drills regularly.
Public awareness: People must be taught to “Drop, Cover, and Hold” during an earthquake.
Monitoring systems: More seismological stations should be set up to record and predict tremors.
Relief teams: Special rescue forces should be ready in all earthquake belts.

Earthquakes are a natural part of Earth’s activity, but they can be very dangerous if people are not prepared. India lies in a region where earthquakes are common because of the collision of tectonic plates. The main earthquake belts in India are the Himalayan Belt, Indo–Burmese Belt, Indo–Gangetic Belt, and the Peninsular Belt. Among these, the Himalayan and Indo–Burmese belts are the most active and dangerous.

To live safely in these belts, India must focus on earthquake-resistant buildings, awareness programs, and strong disaster management systems. People must also learn how to protect themselves during quakes. By being alert and prepared, the damage from earthquakes can be reduced, even if the earthquake itself cannot be stopped.