Indian Army To Hold Mock Drill To Check Earthquake Preparedness

To boost earthquake preparedness, Indian army will hold exercise Rahat. PRO Col. Sombit Ghosh said that exercise RAHAT being conducted by Jaipur-based Sapta Shakti Command of the Indian Army will invovle all stakeholders at the national as well as state level.

An earthquake scenario in Alwar will be created and all aspects of disaster management and relief and rescue operations during any such eventuality will be worked out on ground for better coordination and speedy operations with the aim of minimising civilian casualties.

Rajasthan is one of the most drought prone states due to its low average rainfall coupled with erratic behaviour of monsoon. Nevertheless, due to the presence of Konoi Fault near Jaisalmer, great boundary fault and Jaipur depression, occurrence of earthquake in the state cannot be overruled. The biggest earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on Richter scale occurred in 1906 in Janpalia. Though major parts of Rajasthan lies in seismic zone II (least active), however due to the geographical location, parts of Alwar and Barmer districts fall under seismic zone IV.

Coupled with the hectic monopolisation of urban areas, unplanned expansion of population, large towns and cities of the state are exposed to greater risk from earthquakes. and UEO the movement of Indian and Eurasian Tectonic plates, Himalayan region is vulnerable to earthquakes.

Source: DNA

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