Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
India sits at the Indian-Eurasian Plate boundary, where northward movement (5 cm/year) fuels ongoing seismic stress.
59% of India is earthquake-prone, with 11% in Zone V (highest risk), 18% in Zone IV, and 30% in Zone III.
A 4.0 quake hit Delhi (Feb 17, 2025) and a 5.1 quake struck the Bay of Bengal (Feb 25, 2025), highlighting persistent seismic activity.
Many recent quakes, like Delhi’s, were shallow (5-10 km deep), making their impact more intense on the surface.
In Delhi, underground water channels eroding rock formations may be triggering tremors through hydro fracturing.
Rapid urbanization in seismically active areas increases earthquake damage potential, especially in poorly planned zones.
Advanced seismic monitoring now allows for faster, more accurate earthquake detection and reporting.
Seismic activity fluctuates over time, with active periods followed by relative quiet, making long-term prediction tricky.
Some studies suggest glacial melting in the Himalayas could influence seismic activity, but more research is needed.