The Indian subcontinent has seen several disastrous earthquakes. This natural calamity not only kills people but also damages properties as well. Some major earthquakes have happened in the Indian subcontinent that has destroyed various areas of the country, and these earthquakes have affected the lives of millions of people.
Here is the list of some destructive earthquakes that have hit the country:
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Indian Ocean Tsunami
The Indian Ocean tsunami struck the coasts of many countries in 2004. The tragedy occurred on December 26, 2004, and the world saw an unusual undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1. The tsunami caused immense ocean waves, which rattled the coastal areas. The deadly tsunami killed over 225,000 people across several countries. The tsunami hit the coastal regions of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and so on and it killed over 10,000 people in India. The tsunami caused extensive damage to life and property in the coastal areas.
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Assam Earthquake
The Assam earthquake in 1950 caused extensive damage to life and property in Assam and Tibet. The quake measured 8.6 on the Richter scale. It is reported that over 1,500 people lost their lives only in Assam.
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Bihar Earthquake
The 1934 Bihar earthquake is considered as one of the disastrous earthquakes in the history of the nation. This quake took place in January, but the intensity was very high, with a magnitude of 8.0. This devastating phenomenon killed more than 30,000 people and also caused substantial damage to property in the affected regions. The epicentre of the earthquake was in Nepal. Some of the areas of Bihar such as Munger, Purnea, Champaran, and Muzaffarpur were severely hit.
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Kangra Earthquake:
The Kangra earthquake occurred in 1905 in the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh, and it measured 7.8 on the RH scale. This natural calamity brought extensive damage to property and natural vegetation. It is estimated that more than 100,000 homes were ruined. This earthquake was considered as the second deadliest earthquake in the pre-independence era after the Bihar earthquake in 1934.
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Bihar/Nepal Earthquake
The 2015 Bihar earthquake occurred on April 25, 2015. But its epicentre was at the east of Gorkha District at Barpak, Nepal. In this earthquake, 61 people died in Bihar. But the phenomenon created havoc in the neighbouring country Nepal, killing 9,000 people and nearly 22,000 people were injured. This earthquake is also known as the Gorkha earthquake. It was considered the most devastating natural calamity in Nepal after the 1934 earthquake. The intensity was high; it was measured 7.8 on the Richter scale.
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Gujarat Earthquake
A devastating earthquake occurred in Gujarat in January 2001. It measured 7.7 on the Richter scale (RH), and the people of the state felt the earthquake tremor at 8:40 AM. This natural calamity jolted not only Gujarat but the entire country. It is estimated that more than 20,000 people were killed. Bhuj was the worst-hit area because the epicentre was close to it. Buildings of Bhuj and its surroundings had collapsed. Everything turned topsy turvy within a few minutes of this earthquake.
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Kashmir Earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake hit some of the areas of Azad Kashmir in Pakistan on October 8, 2005. But its intensity was so high that it also struck Jammu and Kashmir. It was measured at 7.6 on the Richter scale. The devastation killed a large number of people, and millions of people were left homeless.
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Kannur Earthquake
The Kannur earthquake took place on January 19, 1975, and had a magnitude of 6.8. The epicentre was in Kannur district. The earthquake left its mark with extensive damage to many monasteries and buildings in the state. The Spiti and Parachu valleys were severely damaged. After that many restoration works took place in the late 70s and early 80s in Himachal Pradesh to bring back the place on the track.
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Maharashtra Earthquake
The devastating earthquake struck Latur in Maharashtra in September 1993 with a magnitude 6.2, causing severe loss of life and property. Two districts Osmanabd and Latur were most affected. It is estimated that more than 20,000 people were killed in this disastrous natural calamity. After the Latur earthquake tragedy, the government of India had made it essential to use TMT bars (earthquake resistant) for the construction of buildings.
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Uttarkashi Earthquake
Uttarkashi saw a devastating earthquake in October 1991. It measured 6.1 on the RH scale. This earthquake killed more than a thousand people and caused massive damage to property in the affected areas. The intensity of the earthquake was so high that the people of Delhi also felt its tremors.
Related Link:
List of All Major Earthquakes that Happened in the History of India
