NDMA is now proposing to take up an exercise for the northeastern region on how to face a situation if there is a repeat of the Shillong earthquake of 1897.
The Shillong earthquake had ruined masonry buildings over a large area and was felt from Myanmar to Delhi.
A revisit of that tremor in the present day context is likely to present a very damaging scenario due to migration of population to cities and the change in building typology in the region vis-a-vis traditional houses, and buildings have been replaced by “un-engineered concrete structures,” an NDMA study says.
A scientifically-developed earthquake scenario for the Shillong earthquake will bring out its anticipated impact on lives and property, and forewarn on the challenges to be met.
The project will undertake a scientific assessment of the vulnerability of the region to the impact of such an earthquake to facilitate capacity building and multi-state coordinated preparedness for disaster management.
“We have found that if 1897 Shillong earthquake occurs today, the loss of lives could be six lakh in Assam alone,” Reddy said.
Updated on: October 06, 2013 13:13 IST
