Sub-Himalayan Zone Research Articles

Formulation and Evaluation of Aegle Marmelos Herbal Churn

Aegle marmelos, a member of the Rutaceae family, is well-known as Bael and possesses a number of medicinal uses. Originally from India, it can be found all over South Asia. This fruit is grown in dry, semi-arid regions of North-East India, the Indo-Genetic plains, and the Sub-Himalayan zone. Deciduous forest found in southern and central India. Grown in india, Ceylon, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Java, Philippines and Fiji, aegle marmelos is a widely dispersed plant. According to the kinds of bael, the fruits vary in terms of tree height and size, fruit form, average weight, fruit skin, fiber content, color, TSS, ascorbic acid, average fruit output, etc

Fossil Species of Lagerstroemia and Millettia from Miocene Strata of the Sarkaghat Region in the Sub-Himalayan Zone of Himachal Pradesh, India, and their Palaeobotanical Inferences

Palaeobotanical investigations were conducted on plant macrofossils obtained from the Middle Siwalik sediments of Sarkaghat, Mandi District, Himachal Pradesh, India as part of this current communication. This study discovered the existence of two previously unknownfossil species that correspond to the taxa that are now living, Lagerstroemia Linn. and Millettia Wight & Arn. of the families Lythraceae and Fabaceae, respectively. These modern comparable taxa of the macrofossils reported here are distributed in the tropical evergreen tomoist deciduous forests of the south-east Asian region which may suggest that tropical forests under moist conditions were prevalent during the Upper Miocene times in this region in contrast to mixed deciduous forest under the reduced precipitation at present. It alsoindicates the prevalence of a humid tropical climate during the Miocene in the Sarkaghat area.

Pharmacognostical investigation of “Adina cordifolia (Roxb.) Brandis” Family-Rubiaceae, collected from areas of Haldwani District Nainital

Ayurveda is a pelagic with lashing quantities of proclaimed and unrevealed medicinal gems. Due to the morphological structure and lack of knowledge certain medicinal gems of Ayurveda are debatable. Such as Adina cordifolia which is one of the controversial kind of drug. Adina cordifolia is the Saffron Teak, Yellow, Belonging to family Rubiaceae, subfamily Cinchonoideae is endowed from India, Southern Asia, Srilanka, Vietnam and Southern China. It is a buoyant, deciduous tree; hinges disintegrated all throughout the significant part of Indian deciduous forests and drift in the sub-himalayan zone up to an altitude of 900 m. Since immemorial times it has been utilized in folklore medicine. Adina cordifolia is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of chronic jaundice, skin disease, gastropathy, fever, cough, swelling in stomach, stomachache and several other diseases. In the present article Adina cordifolia was investigated for Pharmacognostical screening such as Morphological Identification, Organoleptic properties, Microscopic evaluation, Fluorescence Analysis, Determination of the moisture content, Determination of Ash values, Determination of percentage extractive, Loss on drying, and Determination of pH. Because Adina cordifolia is a controversial kind of drug having sparse research so this study will be benevolent to push scientist for co-ordinating their studies.

Fossil leaf and fruit of the genus Harpullia Roxb. from Upper Miocene (Siwalik) sediments in the Sub-Himalayan zone of West Bengal and its biogeographic and palaeoclimatic significance

Fossil leaf and fruit of the genus Harpullia Roxb. from Upper Miocene (Siwalik) sediments in the Sub-Himalayan zone of West Bengal and its biogeographic and palaeoclimatic significance

Hydrogeochemical characterization, multi-exposure deterministic and probabilistic health hazard evaluation in groundwater in parts of Northern India

This work attempts to identify the latent factors controlling the hydrogeochemistry and assess the groundwater quality and associated health risks in the intermontane valley of Nalagarh in the sub-Himalayan zone in northern India. Analytical results of 64 groundwater samples, 32 each collected during pre monsoon and post monsoon seasons show contrasting results for their major chemical constituents. During pre monsoon period, only 3% of the samples exceed their permissible limits for pH, EC, TH and Mg2+, while during post monsoon period, different parameters, such as TH, Mg2+ and K+, exceed their limits by 9, 16, and 3%, respectively. Gibbs and Piper diagrams reveal that groundwater chemistry is mainly controlled by water-sediment (alluvial) interaction. Geochemical signatures and saturation index (SI) further indicate that the weathering and dissolution of silicate, calcite and dolomite minerals mainly contributed to dominance of Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3 - ions in the aquifers. Monte Carlo simulation ascertains non-carcinogenic health risks due to NO3 − and F− in different sub-population groups. Deterministic and probabilistic estimates of these parameters via ingestion and dermal routes confirm their percentage hazard toxicity in the order infants (58.38; 39.62%) >children (15.62; 15.85%) >teens (6.25; 2.73%) >adults (6.25; 1.90%) for pre monsoon. The hazard toxicity for deterministic study implies only on infants (9.38%), whereas, the probabilistic simulation extracted the health risk on infants (6.57%), and children (0.58%) during post monsoon. Minor populations with their lower body weights are more vulnerable to groundwater pollution due to greater consumption of liquid diet. Therefore, treated groundwater is strongly recommended to mitigate health morbidities linked with the non-cancerous risks.

Morphotectonic Studies of Ghaggar Basin in the Northwestern Frontal Part of the Himalaya Based on Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

ABSTRACT The sub-Himalayan zone of the Himalaya is bounded by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in the northern side and by the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) in the southern side. HFT is the youngest major tectonic boundary of the Himalaya, separating the Siwalik Hills from the Indo-Gangetic plains. The HFT and Piedmont fault make the densely populated foothill region vulnerable to seismicity. A morphotectonic study of active faults and frontal anticlines was carried out near the Ghaggar basin along the NW part of the Himalaya. To investigate morphotectonic setup during tectonic deformation, spatial imagery and morphometric parameters extracted from DEM were used along with field investigation. The analysis divulges an important active tectonic setting of the Siwalik foothills, which governs the morphology of the Ghaggar basin and fluvial processes in the area. Variations in the topographic pattern and the interaction of the river drainage system with faults and folds were measured to describe the evolution of tectonic landforms. Drainage pattern development, drainage basin asymmetry young stage of hypsometric curve, active mountain fronts and vigorous down cutting of river indicate active anticline growth. This active fold growth is advanced by the movements along the blind thrust system of the HFT. Morphotectonic evidence such as fracture, fault scarp, river terraces, and active anticlines during field investigation further confirms the recent tectonic activity due to fault-propagated fold growth.

Reanalyzing the geomorphic developments along tectonically active Soan Thrust, NW Himalaya, India

Application of geomorphology in understanding tectonic processes in the active belts like the Himalaya is a well understood concept from the past decades. Identification of tectono-morphic features in a climatically induced and tectonically driven Himalayan system is the main focus of the present study. The parameters used in morphometric analysis i.e., Stream length gradient index (SL), steepness index (ks), and hypsometric curves (HC) are suitable in bringing immediate data for considering the tectono-climatic coupling within Soan Dun. This analysis further identified the potential zone of Holocene deformation which was additionally supported by field study along Soan Thrust (ST) in the northern margin of Soan Dun. The field study exemplifies the presence of fault scarps, triangular facets, transverse faults, V-shaped valley, and folded Quaternary sediments. These tectono-morphic features suffice the sole purpose of this study and signifies the Holocene crustal deformation in the frontal sub-Himalayan zone of Himachal segment.

A Study of Prevalance of Thyroid Dysfunction in Pregnancy in a rural Hospital of Uttar Pradesh

Thyroid dysfunction is the 2nd most common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age affecting two generations. There is no clear data available for rural areas of this sub-Himalayan zone, once with a known endemicity for iodine deficiency. A total of 300 pregnant women attending antenatal OPD of a tertiary care centre (SIMS, Hapur) in rural western UP, at their first visit, were enrolled for study. Epidemiological & clinical details were recorded and thyroid screening test (TSH) done after confirmation of pregnancy. Patients were followed up until delivery.

Trial and Error Model on Kashmir Conflict

Jammu and Kashmir is situated between 32o-15' to 37o-05' latitude north and 72o-35' to 80o-20' longitude east and is commonly known as Kashmir — the princely state of 1947. It is bounded by China in north and east, Afghanistan in north — west, Pakistan in west and in south by India and has complex physiographic divisions, consisting of — Poonch and Jammu, with two further subdivisions — Shivalik; Sub-Himalayan zone — Pir Panjal range — Valley of Kashmir; blessed with a fertile soil, glorious climate, grand mountains, fine rivers and lovely lakes — main Himalayan mass — Gilghit-Hunza. In August 1947, India and Pakistan became independent. Under the scheme of partition provided by the Indian Independence Act of 1947, Kashmir was free to accede to India or Pakistan, even some historians say about remaining Independent, however, Kashmir remained a country in itself for just 73 days since 14th August 1947 to 27th October 1947. Its accession to India in nuance with tribal raid, became a matter of dispute between the two countries and fighting broke out later that year. Whether Maharaja was forced for the accession or did on the basis of religion or carried out in a treacherous manner, but the response of Lord Mountbatten about accession saying the question of accession should be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people . Furthermore, in August just after partition, standstill agreement of Maharaja was accepted by Pakistan accommodating Independent status Kashmir, unfortunately, presently it is mired in the political offices of New Delhi and Islamabad.

Active tectonics of Himalayan Frontal Fault system

In the Sub-Himalayan zone, the frontal Siwalik range abuts against the alluvial plain with an abrupt physiographic break along the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), defining the present-day tectonic boundary between the Indian plate and the Himalayan orogenic prism. The frontal Siwalik range is characterized by large active anticline structures, which were developed as fault propagation and fault-bend folds in the hanging wall of the HFT. Fault scarps showing surface ruptures and offsets observed in excavated trenches indicate that the HFT is active. South of the HFT, the piedmont zone shows incipient growth of structures, drainage modification, and 2–3 geomorphic depositional surfaces. In the hinterland between the HFT and the MBT, reactivation and out-of-sequence faulting displace Late Quaternary–Holocene sediments. Geodetic measurements across the Himalaya indicate a ~100-km-wide zone, underlain by the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), between the HFT and the main microseismicity belt to north is locked. The bulk of shortening, 15–20 mm/year, is consumed aseismically at mid-crustal depth through ductile by creep. Assuming the wedge model, reactivation of the hinterland faults may represent deformation prior to wedge attaining critical taper. The earthquake surface ruptures, ≥240 km in length, interpreted on the Himalayan mountain front through paleoseismology imply reactivation of the HFT and may suggest foreland propagation of the thrust belt.

The Breeding Avifauna of the Sub-Himalayan Zone of Northern Kachin State, Myanmar

—The breeding avifauna of northern Myanmar is extremely poorly known, largely because of unfavorable rainy-season conditions. Previous breeding-season surveys in this high-biodiversity region are lacking, and very few voucher specimens document breeding altitudes and periods. During June to July 2006, we conducted mist-netting, visual, and auditory surveys of the sub-Himalayan avifauna in Putao District, northern Myanmar. A total of 138 species were definitely recorded. Because of the preliminary nature of the surveys, only specific records and general patterns are discussed here. We netted juveniles of two species (Cyornis magnirostris and Dicrurus annectans) not previously known to breed in northern Myanmar. Most babblers (Timaliinae) were present in the same areas during the nonbreeding and breeding seasons, which supports the hypothesis that few, if any, migrate altitudinally. However, Jabouilleia naungmungensis was not encountered at the same low elevations in the breeding season as in the nonbreedin...

Some plant megafossils from the Sub-Himalayan Zone (middle Miocene) of Western Nepal

Some plant megafossils from the Sub-Himalayan Zone (middle Miocene) of Western Nepal

Stratigraphy, structure, and tectonic evolution of the Himalayan fold‐thrust belt in western Nepal

Regional mapping, stratigraphic study, and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology provide the basis for an incremental restoration of the Himalayan fold‐thrust belt in western Nepal. Tectonostratigraphic zonation developed in other regions of the Himalaya is applicable, with minor modifications, in western Nepal. From south to north the major structural features are (1) the Main Frontal thrust system, comprising the Main Frontal thrust and two to three thrust sheets of Neogene foreland basin deposits; (2) the Main Boundary thrust sheet, which consists of Proterozoic to early Miocene, Lesser Himalayan metasedimentary rocks; (3) the Ramgarh thrust sheet, composed of Paleoproterozoic low‐grade metasedimentary rocks; (4) the Dadeldhura thrust sheet, which consists of medium‐grade metamorphic rocks, Cambrian‐Ordovician granite and granitic mylonite, and early Paleozoic Tethyan rocks; (5) the Lesser Himalayan duplex, which is a large composite antiformal stack and hinterland dipping duplex; and (6) the Main Central thrust zone, a broad ductile shear zone. The major structures formed in a general southward progression beginning with the Main Central thrust in late early Miocene time. Eocene‐Oligocene thrusting in the Tibetan Himalaya, north of the study area, is inferred from the detrital unroofing record. On the basis of 40Ar/39Ar cooling ages and provenance data from synorogenic sediments, emplacement of the Dadeldhura thrust sheet took place in early Miocene time. The Ramgarh thrust sheet was emplaced between ∼15 and ∼10 Ma. The Lesser Himalayan duplex began to grow by ∼10 Ma, simultaneously folding the north limb of the Dadeldhura synform. The Main Boundary thrust became active in latest Miocene‐Pliocene time; transport of its hanging wall rocks over an ∼8‐km‐high footwall ramp folded the south limb of the Dadeldhura synform. Thrusts in the Subhimalayan zone became active in Pliocene time. The minimum total shortening in this portion of the Himalayan fold‐thrust belt since early Miocene time (excluding the Tibetan zone) is ∼418–493 km, the variation depending on the actual amounts of shortening accommodated by the Main Central and Dadeldhura thrusts. The rate of shortening ranges between 19 and 22 mm/yr for this period of time. When previous estimates of shortening in the Tibetan Himalaya are included, the minimum total amount of shortening in the foldthrust belt amounts to 628–667 km. This estimate neglects shortening accommodated by small‐scale structures and internal strain and is therefore likely to fall significantly below the actual amount of total shortening.

Palynological evidence for vegetation development and climatic change in the Sub-Himalayan Zone (Neogene, Central Nepal)

A palynological study on Miocene–Pleistocene sediments exposed at Surai Khola in central Nepal yields new information on vegetation and climate change over the last ∼11.5 Ma. Our results show that during the late Middle Miocene to early Late Miocene (∼11.5–∼8 Ma, Lower Siwalik) the Himalayan foothills and the Gangetic floodplain of Nepal were mainly forested with subtropical to temperate broad-leafed (b.l.) taxa (e.g. Quercus, Lithocarpus/ Castanopsis, Alnus), and tropical forest taxa respectively. Grasses were present at the time but were not abundant. Between the early to late Late Miocene (∼8–∼6.5 Ma; lower Middle Siwalik) grassland replaced subtropical and temperate b.l. forest. This change may be related to disturbance of the vegetation on the slopes due to uplift, perhaps enhanced by intensification of the monsoon. Between late Late Miocene to Pliocene/Early Pleistocene? (∼6.5–<2 Ma; Middle–Upper Siwalik) the grassland vegetation became well established and the influence of the subtropical climax vegetation is minor, with some occasional revivals. An increase in peak discharge in the fluvial system (also related to monsoonal intensification?) is recognized by an increase of the aquatic taxon Potamogeton and better preservation of all specimens. Enhanced seasonal flooding in the system during the Pliocene (∼5.5–∼3.5 Ma; top Middle Siwalik) may have produced local lacustrine conditions on the overbanks, evidenced by an abundance of algae ( Spirogyra) and pteridophytes in the pollen assemblages. Evidence of climatic cooling between ∼6.5–∼5 Ma ago is indicated by the onset of steppe taxa, decrease of tropical forest taxa and disappearance of certain Dipterocarpaceae. Pollen assemblages from the Surai Khola section suggest complex vegetation changes, of which the shift to C 4 grass dominance was only one. Global climatic cooling, the intensification of the monsoon, and the Late Miocene uplift may all have contributed to the phytogeography in the Sub-Himalayan Zone.

Provenance of the lower Tertiary mudrocks in the Jammu Sub-Himalayan Zone, Jammu and Kashmir State (India), NW Himalaya and its tectonic implications

The lower Tertiary mudrocks are rich in clay minerals, which together form 48–60% whereas quartz forms 30–41% of the bulk minerals. Clay minerals of the Subathu shales are composed of illite, chlorite, and sepiolite. In the mudstones of the Murree Group, illite and chlorite are associated with kaolinite and sepiolite. The illite- and chlorite-bearing suites are indicative of their derivation from metamorphic and magmatic sources. The presence of smectite in the calcrete indicates weathering and soil-forming processes. In SiO2 vs. K2O/Na2O diagram, the mudrocks occupy active continetal margin (ACM) field with a few exceptions, suggesting that they originated from an active continental margin, orogenic belt or strike-slip basin. On the other hand in mudrock maturity index vs. log K2O/Na2O plot, the points occupy an area in and above/around phyllo-tectic field. The trace elements values, and Rb/Sr and Ba/Sr ratios are close to the values suggested for active continental margin.

Iodine status of food and drinking water of a sub-Himalayan zone of India

Iodine content of rice (42) and drinking water (108) from a goitre-endemic belt of Assam, a sub-Himalayan zone of India, was evaluated. Iodine content of staple food (rice) and drinking water was found to be poor. Mean iodine content of rice was found to be 11.8 7.3mug/100g. Lower level of iodine was also observed in drinking water samples (mean of 1.52 0.48 mug/l).

Petrological evolution of the Paleogene coal deposits of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

A detailed macro- and micro-petrological investigation of 8 coal seam profiles of Eocene age from the sub-Himalayan zone of Jammu was undertaken in order to characterize them petrographically and to focus on their evolution. The quantitative data suggest that these coals are vitrinite rich, with low concentrations of inertinite and rare occurrences of liptinite. According to microlithotype concentration these coals may be characterized as vitrinite rich, with minor amounts of clarite, vitrinertite and trimacerite. The dominant minerals are clays, siderite and pyrite (occurring mostly as disseminations, cavity filling and in framboidal state). These coals are vitric in type, low volatile bituminous in rank and ashy in grade. The petrographic character and the presence of teleutospores suggest that, similar to other Tertiary coal deposits in the world, the angiosperm flora contributed chiefly to the development of coal facies in the area. The maceral and microlithotype composition shows that these coals originated from the low forest and undisturbed (in situ) peat in foreland basins under limno-telmatic depositional conditions. The water was brackish with regular influxes of fresh water.

Changing patterns of vegetation through Siwalik succession

The palaeobotanical record from the Neogene of Himalaya has been examined and an attempt has been made to reconstruct the vegetation patterns and throw light on palaeoclimate of the region during Siwalik time. Though the flora of the Pre-Siwalik Neogene from which the Siwalik flora evolved is poorly documented, a few palynofossils from the Kasauli and Dagshai formations indicate the existence of subtropical to temperate vegetation in the Upper reaches of the newly built Himalaya. On the contrary, a fairly rich assemblage of megafossils from the Siwalik indicates widespread tropical evergreen to moist deciduous mixed forest in the lowland sub-Himalayan zone during Middle Miocene-Pliocene The assemblage is dominated by wet evergreen dipterocarps and associated taxa, most of which are known to have entered the Indian subcontinent from southeast Asia during Miocene and subsequently spread all over and finally reached the lower slopes of sub-Himalaya. This has resulted increase in the diversity of tropical vegetation.&#x0D; The post-Pliocene orogeny of Himalaya brought great changes in the topography and climate which adversely affected the vegetation patterns of the region. The Early and Middle Siwalik tropical evergreen forest whose chief component are Anisoptera, Dipterocarpus, Hopea, Shorea (other than Shorea robusta), Polyalthia, Calophyllum, Aphanamixis, Dysoxylum, Gluta, Dracontomelum, Mangifera, Swintonia, Cynometra, Koompassia, Ormosia, Pongamia, Sindora, Duabanga, Diospyros spp., Myristica, etc. started dwindling towards the end of Middle Siwalik and subsequently disappeared from western and central sectors, though a few taxa like Mangifera, Litsea, Cinnamomum, Bauhinia, Dalbergia, Ficus, etc. continued to adjust to the new climatic conditions. Extinction of tropical evergreen taxa and further rise of Himalaya gave way to proliferation and diversification of tropical and subtropical moist deciduous to dry deciduous temperate vegetation in the lower and higher slopes respectively, as is also evidenced from the palynological record.

Late Pleistocene Fluvial Response to Tectonics in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract The Quaternary tectonics in the sub-Himalayan zone is postulated on the basis of the LANDSAT imagery study of the structural features in the area. These studies are corroborated by geomorphic evidences as well. The deposition of Katra fill at the foot of Trikuta hill, the entrenchment by river Tawi and deep gorge at the exit of river Tawi from Udhampur dun indicate neotectonism. The event resulted in the integration of fluvial system. This is evident from the presence of rock components of Inner Himalaya in the late Pleistocene deposits.

Hydrocarbon Possibilities of Concealed Mesozoic-Paleogene Sediments Below Himalayan Nappes--Reappraisal

Hydrocarbon exploration of the Ganga (Ganges) and Sub-Himalayan basins indicates the presence of upper Neogene-Quaternary continental molasse and the absence of Paleogene sediments regarded as hydrocarbon source beds. Marine to brackish water Paleogene-lower Neogene sediments, closely fringing the Sub-Himalayan foothills, increase in thickness northward. Their presence and facies in the frontal schuppen zone and in the Lesser Himalayan windows, commonly in close association with upper Mesozoic shelf sediments, indicate a formerly greater width for the late Mesozoic-early Neogene shelf-miogeosynclinal basin. The pre-Tertiary rocks of the Lesser Himalayas are in nappes floored by the flat-lying sole thrust redesignated the Main Boundary thrust (MBT). Schuppen structure and ateral shortening complicate the geometry of the MBT. Downfaulted klippen and decken also are present in grabens of pre-Tertiary rocks in the Sub-Himalayan schuppen zone. Pre-Tertiary tectonic grain and metamorphism, ubiquitously developed within the Lesser Himalayan cover rocks, are typically absent in the subjacent Paleogene-lower Neogene window-zone sediments. Deformations within the latter are much less than in pre-Tertiary cover rocks, with which they are commonly intersliced owing to the development of schuppen structure. Tertiary deformations are unlikely to affect adversely the possible hydrocarbon resource within the thick Mesozoic-lower Neogene autochthonous sediments or those which have migrated to the Lesser Himalayan cover rocks. This opinion is corroborated by a few oil and gas shows from the Eocene limestone outcrops close to the MBT and also from the Lesser Himalayan pre-Tertiary metamorphic cover rocks.