Two earthquakes were felt one after the other in Kutch, Gujarat
Gujarat: Late Thursday night, residents of Gujarat’s Kutch area were rocked by two separate earthquakes. It is a comfort that there have been no reports of fatalities or significant damage brought on by these shocks.
The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) reports that the initial earthquake occurred at 10:12 p.m. and had a Richter scale intensity of 3.4. About 20 kilometers northeast of Bhuj, close to Bhachau, was the epicenter of this earthquake. The second earthquake occurred at 10:19 p.m., seven minutes later. The epicenter was located 19 kilometers northwest of Rapar, and its strength was 2.7. However, according to the State Disaster Management Department, these earthquakes did not cause any damage to any structures or result in any fatalities.
Why is the land of Kutch trembling so much?
It should be noted that earthquakes are not a recent phenomenon in the Kutch area. This region is regarded as one of West India’s most earthquake-prone locations. The ancient rift faults that were developed here millions of years ago are constantly becoming active due to the clash of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This explains why Kutch has been experiencing earthquakes on a regular basis.
The intricate system of rift basins forms the foundation of Kutch’s geological structure. The Katrol Hill Fault (KHF) and the Kutch Mainland Fault (KMF) are the main fault lines in this area. This area is bordered to the north by the Nagarparkar Fault, to the east by the Radhanpur-Barmer Arc, and to the south by the North Kathiawar Fault. The Arabian Sea opens out on the west side of this basin.
The Bhuj earthquake is no longer forgotten
This resulted in a devastating earthquake that killed over 20,000 people in Bhuj in 2001. This earthquake happened close to Chobari village during that time. These earthquakes are thought to be distinct from those that happen on typical tectonic boundaries.
Experts claim that in addition to natural causes, human activity also contributes to tremors. Mild earthquakes are caused by changes in land use, careless groundwater extraction, and increased surface load from excessive rains, all of which place stress on pre-existing faults.
Even though neither of the tremors this time proved to be dangerous, experts stress the need for ongoing monitoring, disaster preparedness, and earthquake-resistant architecture. It is said that although earthquakes cannot be totally prevented, their threat may be decreased with more planning.