New Delhi : Parts of Delhi and Kolkata, especially areas along the rivers Yamuna and Hooghly respectively, would face a greater impact in the event of an earthquake, according to a study conducted by the government.
While most of Delhi face “least” and “moderate” risk, areas like the Lutyens Zone and north campus of Delhi University fall in “high” and “very high” seismic risk hazard index, the study says. In the City of Joy, earthquake can pose a threat to Salt Lake area and places along the Hooghly river bank.
The Report on Seismic Hazard Microzonation of NCT of Delhi and Kolkata done by the Ministry of Earth Sciences describes threat levels in different parts of the two cities in the event of an earthquake. The high risk zone in the national capital, mostly in patches, are concentrated in east, central and northern parts. Areas like Gita Colony, Sarita Vihar, Shikarpur, Paschim Vihar, Wazirabad, north campus, Rithala, Rohini, Jahangirpuri, Bawana, Karol Bagh and Janakpuri fall under the “very high risk” index. Most of these areas lie along the Yamuna, reports PTI.
Places like Hauz Khas, Burari, Najafgarh and IGI Airport fall under “high risk” zone, while AIIMS, Vasant Kunj, Naraina, JNU campus and Ashok Vihar are among the safest places and fall under the “least” seismic risk index.
“A study is being conducted for 30 more cities. We will bring out a similar report for other cities as well,” Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Earth Sciences, said during the launch of the report.
