Continuous earthquake tremors are being felt in Jodhpur, Pali, Sirohi, Jaisalmer, and Barmer in Western Rajasthan and the area from Marwar to Mewar are turned into an earthquake-prone region. Why such sudden changes? Geologists have the answer that the Indian plate is constantly moving towards the north-east leading to increasing geological pressure on the Aravalli range area of Rajasthan. A huge fault has come due to different rocks between Aravalli hills in Mewar and plains of Marwar, which resulted in the area from Marwar to Mewar into an earthquake-prone region.
However, some safe updates from geologists as they have denied the possibility of a big earthquake in Rajasthan, as of now.
The four distinct Seismic zones of India are as Following
- Zone – II: This is said to be the least active seismic zone.
- Zone – III: It is included in the moderate seismic zone.
- Zone – IV: This is considered to be the high seismic zone.
- Zone – V: It is the highest seismic zone.
As reported by “Rajasthan National Disaster Risk Reduction Portal” the state lies in earthquake zones II, III and IV. Some area of Jalore, Sirohi, Barmer and Alwar districts fall in zone IV whereas many parts of Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Pali, Sirohi, Dungarpur, Alwar, Banswara, fall in zone III.
It is noteworthy that in the last ten years, fourteen tremors were felt in western Rajasthan. Head of Department of Geology Department, Jai Narayan Vyas University, Professor Suresh Mathur told to some media that if the epicentre of the earthquake is 10 km below the surface of Jodhpur, geologically, it is clear that the epicentre is located in basement rocks below the igneous rocks of Malani igneous suite and Jodhpur group of rocks. The most preliminary view is that possibly, the nearest lineament may be ‘K lineament” running from Khatu to Sirohi.
Prof S C Mathur, Head of department, geology, Jai Narayan Vyas University said: “Western Rajasthan, due to its geographical condition, comes under the Thar Desert region which always had weak ground motion”. The stability is also because of the dense desert cover which has an abundance of sand acting as a cushion. “During earthquakes, Sand acts as a shock absorber in the western Rajasthan,” he said.
