'Eight lakh may die if magnitude 8 quake hits Himalaya region'

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population to cities and the change in building typology in the region vis-a-vis traditional houses, and buildings have been replaced by “un-engineered concrete structures,” an NDMA study says.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.