'Delhi among 30 cities at high risk seismic zone'

Delhi is among thirty important cities in the country that fall into high risk seismic zone while Srinagar is among places at very high risk of earthquakes, the government today said.

Delhi is among thirty important cities in the country that fall into high risk seismic zone while Srinagar is among places at very high risk of earthquakes, the government today said.

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Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said this in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

While Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh fall under zone IV (high risk), Srinagar comes under zone V (very high risk), he said. As per seismic map of India prepared by Bureau of Indian Standards 58.6 per cent areas of the country fall into earthquake zone V (very high risk), IV (high risk) and III (moderate risk)," the Minister said.

Towns like Almora, Ambala, Bahraich, Barauni, Bhuj, Bulandshahar, Darbhanga, Darjeeling, Dehradun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Gorakhpur, Imphal, Jorhat, Kohima, Ludhiyana, Mandi, Monghyr, Moradabad, Nainital, Patna, Pilibhit, Roorkee, Sadiya, Shimla and Tezpur fall under seismic zone IV and V.

"Government has also sent advisories to state governments and Union Territory Administrations from time to time to take up various disaster mitigation and preparedness measures by way of adoption of modern building bye-laws to ensure seismic resistant construction," the Minister said.