Abstract

Earthquake is one of the most frightening and destructive phenomena of nature. The northeast India region, as well as its adjoining South-Asian neighbours including Myanmar and Bangladesh, is tectonically and seismically most active. The region categorized under the highest level of seismic hazard potential: Zone V, of the seismic zonation map of India, has experienced nearly 22 large (M ≥7.0) and two great earthquakes (M S ∼ 8.7) in the past 130 years. All these earthquakes caused wide-spread damage over the region. In the recent past, with rapid urbanization combined with a significant population rise as compared to those times when these great/large earthquakes occurred, the seismic vulnerability index has increased manifold. The situation demands widespread dissemination of seismic hazard and preparedness information via community engagement and highlighting on potentially tragic consequences of earthquakes by conducting extensive mock drill exercises & earthquake awareness programmes. In this paper, the role and efforts of the statuary bodies in the region, such as National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and CSIR – Northeast Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) and societal program of Academy of Scientific and Innovative research, to mitigate and minimize seismic hazard by extensive dissemination of earthquake information, via scientific scenario and impact assessment, is holistically compiled.

Highlights

  • Even as the time and space prediction of an earthquake is far from reality, the devastations caused by this natural calamity could be efficiently mitigated and managed through adequate preparedness [Turner et al, 1986; Lehman and Taylor, 1987; Mileti, 1999; Perry et al, 2001 and Ramirez and Peek-Asa, 2005]

  • The unpredictability of earthquake impelled authorities to look for hazard mitigation through appropriate interventions, which can contribute significantly in minimizing the impact of earthquake and the loses

  • The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India is the nodal agency in the country authorized with the mandate to implement and execute multifield strategies for disaster management

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Summary

Introduction

Even as the time and space prediction of an earthquake is far from reality, the devastations caused by this natural calamity could be efficiently mitigated and managed through adequate preparedness [Turner et al, 1986; Lehman and Taylor, 1987; Mileti, 1999; Perry et al, 2001 and Ramirez and Peek-Asa, 2005]. Such strategies are globally recognized and promoted for efficiently minimizing the devastations suffered by the affected populace [Banerjee and Gillespie, 1994]. The merit of the study dwells on the fact that deliberations on technological hazards and newer risks dominates in most of the risk governance literatures while the natural hazards find meagre mention [Walker et al, 2010]

Tectonics and Seismicity of NE India
Activities undertaken
Mega Mock Drill Exercise
School Children Sensitizing Workshop
Earthquake Scenario Exercise
Media Sensitization Campaign
Assessment of the activities undertaken
Conclusion
Full Text
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