The Chamoli earthquake of
29 March 1999 in northern India is yet another important event from the
viewpoint of Himalayan seismotectonics and seismic resistance of
non-engineered constructions. The earthquake occurred in a part of the
Central Himalaya, which is highly prone to earthquakes and has been placed
in the highest seismic zone (zone V) of India. There has been a bitter
controversy during the recent years regarding the seismic safety of a
260-m-high rock-fill dam under construction at Tehri, about 80 km west of
the epicenter. Fortunately, there are no major cities in the meizoseismal
region and the population density is the second lowest in the state. The
earthquake caused death of about 100 persons and injured hundreds more.
Maximum MSK intensity was up to VIII at a few locations. |