State plans to install quake early warning system

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 21

The Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) System could help in mitigating the seismic hazards as Himachal lies in seismic zone IV and V, said Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Onkar Chand Sharma.

Chairing a meeting to develop EEW System yesterday, he said IIT-Roorkee had sent a proposal to the state government to establish the system. IIT-Roorkee has installed the system in Uttarakhand.

He said Himachal might install earthquake sensors in different parts which would detect earthquake activities in real time. The warning might be communicated to the public by a network of sirens. If the earthquake had its epicentre in Kangra or Mandi regions, the people in the capital might get lead time to take action, say by 30 to 35 seconds, he added.

Similarly, the expected lead time for the major cities if the 1905 Kangra earthquake repeats will be Solan 42 seconds, Mandi 20 seconds, Dalhousie 8 seconds, Dehradun 77 seconds, Chandigarh 43 seconds, Ludhiana 37 seconds, Amritsar 38 seconds, Panipat 93 seconds and Delhi 123 seconds.

Sharma said timely action might save many lives and such system would help generate database of earthquakes and mass awareness on safety.

Sharma said the government might consider and more discussion would be held to materialise the proposal to minimise the expected loss and damage.

Associate Professor, IIT-Roorkee, Dr Kamal, Dean-School of Earth & Environment Sciences, Central University Himachal Pradesh, Kangra, Prof AK Mahajan, Director, IMD, Shimla, Dr Manmohan Singh were present at the meeting.

Time to save many lives

• Himachal may install earthquake sensors in different parts which would detect earthquake activities in real time
• The warning may be communicated to the public by a network of sirens
• If the earthquake has its epicentre in Kangra or Mandi regions, the people in the capital might get lead time to take action, say by 30 to 35 seconds 
• The expected lead time for the major cities if the 1905 Kangra earthquake repeats will be Solan 42 seconds, Mandi 20 seconds, Dalhousie 8 seconds, Dehradun 77 seconds, Chandigarh 43 seconds, Ludhiana 37 seconds, Amritsar 38 seconds, Panipat 93 seconds and Delhi 123 seconds