The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 originated at a depth of about 14 km and caused shaking in Baramulla and adjacent areas of Kashmir. The National Center for Seismology (NCS), Ministry of Earth Science, India, reported the same event at a 10 km depth. Both these sources confirm that the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth, and it seems reasonable that the quake ruptured local active faults. It is consistent with our previous work on the causes of earthquakes in the region and reaffirms the potential of earthquake hazards associated with the earthquake sources under Kashmir. It is yet another wake-up call for us to prepare the ground for a major earthquake that could trigger devastation in Kashmir because of the vast scale of unscientific urbanisation practices in
the built environment, prone to damage during earthquakes.
The geological and tectonic history of Kashmir suggests an intricate relationship with earthquakes. This means that earthquakes have carved the landscape and made Kashmir one of the reflections of paradise on Earth. However, with beauty comes the beast; for Kashmir, it is the earthquake, flood, and landslide hazards. The tectonic structure indicates that major earthquakes in the region can occur at anytime.
The exact timing is impossible to predict because available knowledge and technological advancement do not allow that. It is a global concern where earthquake prediction remains impossible, even for the most technologically sophisticated earthquake-vulnerable nations such as Japan, the USA, New Zealand, etc.
All these nations started a campaign long ago to secure life from earthquakes and related hazards by following strict building codes that have minimised losses and damages during major earthquakes, which we have observed over the decades of their scientific and engineering progress. Unfortunately, the campaign has yet to start in Kashmir. Delaying tactics are extremely dangerous and paint a grim picture of the region during an impending quake of magnitude seven and above.
I have been writing articles on earthquake hazards for more than a decade now, as many other scientists and researchers do, and most of it is published by Kashmir Observer, which has taken a leading role in disseminating scientific information vital for the security and safety of our societies from hazards, in particular, earthquakes and floods. Yet, whenever I visit India, I fail to understand why our buildings do not follow the standard earthquake safety building procedures and practices that will save lives during earthquakes. I have been posing this question to myself and discussing it with several scientists, students, and people in Kashmir, which made me conclude that the changes are difficult to make but are not impossible. The mindset is
not ready to leap towards a new building practice where some previous social norms may have to be abandoned for good. For example, including well-trained architects and engineers from some of the best institutes in the world to replace the existing ones, who are locally trained, and most of them still need to be formally trained at universities, etc. For example, most of the residential buildings I have witnessed in Anantnag, where I come from, are designed and constructed by local architects and other engineers, who have often yet to be trained in a formal engineering institution. It is a huge problem and the current norm ought to be replaced by professional engineering design and construction.
The government must adopt a resolution to carefully monitor the competence of engineering design and construction patterns to allow systematic replacement procedures for the greater good. The 6th World Congress on Disaster Management (WCDM) in Dehradun in 2023 also recognized the need to change the existing practices for good. The world’s scientific community and people from diverse backgrounds emphasized the need to reevaluate the existing norms in preparation for a better future to effectively combat the risks posed by earthquakes, floods and other hazards.
Our regions are prone to various hazards, and earthquakes are the most dangerous because of their unpredictable nature, giving us sleepless nights. Therefore, it is good for our societies to work towards preparedness and making our surroundings an abode of peace. We can do it; it costs what is easily affordable to many and possible for others with the help of government and private agencies. We must start to navigate the route of hazard preparedness and disaster resilience in the built environment for the better of our regions, and to accomplish this enormous task, the government must play a critical role by monitoring, facilitating, and rebuilding the infrastructure of the entire country, especially, the most vulnerable regions such as Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.
- Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
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