Delhi Can't Handle A 'Great Earthquake Disaster'. Where Does The Problem Lie?

(MENAFN- Live Mint) The 4.0-magnitude earthquake in Delhi early Monday (February 17) wasn't mild. It "scared the life out of" many in the national capital. "Whole building shook for 5 seconds in Janakpuri...," a social media user shared her ordeal in a post on X, while another described tremors as "a strong jolt like explosion." A user also raised alarm, saying these tremors were“scary and the closest warning sign to revamp the city for being earthquake resistant.”

Is Delhi prepared for severe earthquakes? What's the condition of buildings and infrastructure in Delhi NCR right now?

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These concerns mounted as Delhi is prone to severe earthquake damage. "Delhi is prone not only to damaging earthquakes in or near Delhi, but due to its peculiar geological setting it could also sustain strong shaking due to a large earthquake in the Himalayas," the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) says on its website.

Even though Delhi is among the high-risk areas, the DDMA says,“Most buildings in Delhi may not meet Indian standards on seismic constructions and may be considered deficient from a seismic safety viewpoint.”

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"There is a real potential for a great earthquake disaster in Delhi, the implications of which go well beyond casualties because of its political and commercial significance," the DDMA website reads.

Where does the problem lie?

Anubrotto Kumar (Dunu) Roy, Director of the Hazards Centre (New Delhi), said the condition of buildings and infrastructure in Delhi-NCR is "very poor" right now.

He added that nobody pays attention to basic principles (of building) because of two reasons. First, there has not been a severe earthquake in Delhi.

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"Delhi, until 1990s, was a low-rise-high density city - this means there was a crowd but buildings never went up. It was mostly two-three stories...now we have tall building right in the centre," said Dunu Roy.

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