Stress field in the western Himalaya with special reference to the 8 October 2005 Muzaffarabad earthquake

Abstract

The Muzaffarabad region in western Himalaya, the site of the devastating earthquake of 8 October 2005 of magnitude 7.6, occupies a unique tectonic position, encompassed by the Himalayan arc to the east and the complex thrust zones of Pamir and Hindukush in the north and northwest respectively. Further, the region is entangled in a peculiar overturned syntaxial bend of the Main Central Thrust (MCT), north of Main Boundary Thrust (MBT). A study of focal mechanisms and stress inversion in each of these regions indicates varied stress regimes demonstrating their distinct tectonic character. While shallow plane thrust faulting with low dip angles is generally witnessed along the Himalayan arc, a transition to steep fault plane dips up to 45° is seen in the Muzaffarabad region on the western side. It is inferred that the stress field in Muzaffarabad region is not a mere extension of that in the Himalayan arc but is controlled by the complex interplay of the surrounding diverse tectonic structural units comprising the Himalaya, Hindukush and Pamir, rather than merely the tectonic forces of India–Eurasia collision.