Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A review of the seismicity and seismotectonics of Delhi and adjoining areas

  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Understanding of seismicity and seismotectonics of Delhi and adjoining areas is essential as these areas lie in the seismic zone IV and are geologically confined to the Delhi Fold Belt (DFB), juxtaposed to the Himalayan Frontal Thrust Fold Belt. Owing to the set-up, seismicity in this area is ascribed to the Himalayan Thrust System and activation of DFB Fault Systems. Considerably improved instrumental seismic monitoring in this area and data analysis had resolved three regions of pronounced seismicity that lie close to Sonepat, Rohtak and western part of the NCT Delhi, attributed to activation of various portions of the fault systems of the DFB. Based on seismic telemetry network data, the seismicity pattern analysis revealed that the Mahendragarh Dehradun Sub-Surface Fault (MDSSF) and Delhi Sargodha Ridge (DSR) are the two major zones of structural importance for the nucleation of seismicity in this region. These revelations were corroborated with the fault plane solution of the earthquakes. The dominant mechanism in nucleation of seismicity in DFB is the thrust with minor strike slip. The seismicity and seismotectonics of Delhi and adjoining areas endemic to activation of DFB is reviewed and presented in this paper.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ambraseys, N. and Jackson, D. (2003) A note on early earthquakes in northern India and southern Tibet. Curr. Sci., v.84, pp.570–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bapat, A., Kulkarni, R. and Guha, S. (1983) Catalogue of Earthquakes in India and Neighbourhood from Historical Period up to 1979. Indian Soc. Earthq. Eng., Roorkee, p.2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bansal, B.K., Singh, S.K., Dharamraju, R., Pacheco, J.F., Ordaz, M., Dattatrayam, R.S. and Suresh, G. (2009) Source study of two small earthquakes of Delhi, India and estimation of ground motion from future moderate, local events. Jour. Seismol., v.13, pp.89–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya, S.N. and Dattatrayam, R.S. (2000) Recent advances in seismic instrumentation and data interpretation in India. Curr. Sci., v.79, pp.1347–1358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya, S.N., Shukla, A.K., Prakash Rajesh, Gautam, J.L. and Verma, R.K. (2001) Seismicity of National Capital Territory Delhi. Proc. International Seminar on Earthquake Strategies with Particular Refernce to India, New Delhi, pp.1–10.

  • Bilham, R., Gaur, V.K. and Molnar, P. (2001) Himalayan Seismic Hazard. Science, v.293, pp.1442–1444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CBRI Report (1998) Strong motion seismic instrumentation in and around Delhi region. CBRI Report No.G(S) 012, Roorkee.

  • Chouhan, R.K.S. (1975) Seismotectonics of Delhi Region. Proc. Indian Nat. Sci. Acad., v.41(A), pp.429–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, U. (1992) Seismotectonics of the Himalaya. Curr. Sci., v.62, pp.40–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta, S., Pande, Prabhas, Ganguly, D., Iqbal, Z., Sanyal, K., Venkatraman, N.V., Dasgupta, S., Sural, B., Harendranath, L., Mazumdar, K., Sanyal, S., Roy, A., Das, L.K., Misra, P.S. And Gupta, H. (2000) Seismotectonic Atlas of India and its Environ. Geol. Surv. India.

  • Gupta, S. K. and Sharda, Y. P. (1996) A geotechnical assessment of Delhi earthquake of July 28, 1994. Proc. Int. Conf. Dis. Mitin., Madras, v.1, pp.A1/26–/31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta Yogesh, Mohanty, W.K., Chauhan, P.K.S., Verma, R.K. and Roonwal, G.S. (1996) Pg and Sg wave velocities in Delhi and surrounding region from microseismicity data. Bull. Indian Soc. Earth. Tech. Paper,v.359, pp.229–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havskov, J. and Ottemoller, L. (2001) SEISAN v7.2, the Earthquake Analysis Software. University of Bergen, Norway, 255p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hukku, B.M. (1966) Probable causes of earthquake in the Delhi-Sonipat area. Proc III Sysmp. Earthquake Engg. Roorkee, v.II, pp.75–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • IMD Report (2000) Integration of network of seismological observatories in India.

  • IMD Report (2004) Micro Earthquake Survey of the Jind Region (Haryana).

  • Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures (2002) Part 1-General Provisions and Buildings (Fifth Edition). Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi 110002, pp.42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeffreys, H. and Bullen, K.E. (1940) Seismological tables. British Assoc., Grey-Miline Trust, 50p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jhingran, A.G. and Puri, S.N. (1963) Seismicity of the Delhi region with reference to the Himalayas. Symp. Himalayan Geology, Calcutta.

  • Kamble, V.P. and Chaudhury, H.M. (1979) Recent seismicity around Delhi and neighborhood. Mausam, v.30, pp.305–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karunakaran, C. and Ranga Rao, A. (1979) Status of Hydrocarbons in the Himalaya region Contributions to stratigraphy and structure. Proc. Himalayan Geol. Seminar, Pub. Geo. Survey of India, Calcutta, pp.1–66.

  • Krishnaswamy, V.S. (1965) On the utilization of geothermal stream and prospects of developing the hot springs in the NW Himalayas. Indian Geohydrology, v.1.

  • Mehta, P.N., Hukku, B.M. and Krishnaswamy, V.S. (1970) Geoseismological studies for the aseismic design of the Kot and Dhauj Dam project, Gurgaon district, Haryana. Proc. Earthq. Engg. Roorkee, v.IV, pp.411–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molnar, P., Eitch, T.J. and Wo, F.T. (1973) Fault plane solutions of shallow earthquakes and contemporary tectonics in Asia. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.19, pp.101–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ni, J. and Barazangi, M. (1984) Seismotectonics of the Himalayan collision zone: Geometry of the underthrusting Indian plate beneath the Himalaya. Jour. Geophys. Res., v.89, pp.1147–1163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldham, T.A. (1883) Catalogue of Indian earthquake from the earliest time to the end of A.D. 1869. Mem.Geol. Surv. India, v.19, pp.169–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raivermen, V., Kunte, S. and Mukherjee, A. (1983) Basic Geometry, Cenozoic sediment and hydrocarbon prospects in NW Himalayas and Indo-Gangetic plains Petroleum. Asia Jour., Dehradun, v.6, pp.67–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roonwal, G.S. and Mohanty, W.K. (1999) Seismicity, source parameters and crustal configuration of Delhi and the surrounding region. Report, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, C.F. (1971) Sporadic and continuous seismicity of faults and regions, recent crustal movements. Bull. Roy. Soc. New Zealand, v.9, pp.171–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, M.L., Wason, H.R. and Dimri, R. (2003) Seismic Zonation of the Delhi region for Bedrock Ground Motion. Jour. Pure Appl. Geophys., v.160, pp.2381–2398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shukla, A.K., Prakash, Rajesh, Shukla, H.P., Gupta, H.V., Bhattachaya, S.N. and Srivastava, S.K. (2002) Delhi seismic telemetry network and analysis of digital waveform data collected through this network. Proc.12th Symp. Earthquake Engineering, IIT Roorkee, pp.105–113.

  • Shukla, A.K., Prakash, Rajesh, Singh, R.K., Mishra, P.S. and Bhatnagar, A.K. (2007) Seismotectonic implications of Delhi region through fault plane solutions of some recent earthquakes. Curr. Sci., v.93, pp.1848–1853.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla, A. K., Prakash, Rajesh, Shukla, H.P. and Bhattacharya, S.N. (2001) Digital seismic VSAT based telemetry system for National Capital Region: A perspective. Proc. mid-term symp. on e-Convergence and technology for disaster management, Shimla, pp.10–17.

  • Sieberg, A. (1917) Catalogue régional des tremblements de terre 1908, Ser. B, Pub. Bureau Centre. Assoc. Intern. Seismol., Strasbourg, p.91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suetsugu, D. (1993) The program for focal mechanism diagram with P-wave polarity data using the equal-area projection. IISEE lecture note, Tsukuba Japan.

  • Srivastava, L.S. and Somayajulu, J.G. (1966) The seismicity of area around Delhi. Proc. III symposiam on Earthquake Engg., Univ. of Roorkee, pp.417–422.

  • Srivasatava, A.K. and Jalote, P.N. (1977) Seismicity & Tectonic setup of the area around Delhi. Sixth World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Delhi, v.2, pp.433–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastav, S.K., Bhattacharya, S.N., Shukla, A.K., Prakash Rajesh, Shukla, H.P., Baidya, P.R. and Dua, S.C. (2001) Near real time seismic monitoring system in and around National Capital Region of Delhi. Proc. Seismic Hazards, pp.220–229.

  • Srinivasan, S. and Khar, B.M. (1995) Status of hydrocarbon exploration in NW Himalayan and Foredeep-Contribution to stratigraphy structure. Symp. Rec. Advs. in Geol, Studies of NW Him. & Foredeep, Geol. Surv. Ind. Spl. Publ., v.21, pp.295–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandon, A.N. and Choudhury, H.M. (1966) A report on the seismicity studies by the India Meteorological Department. Third symp. Earthq. Engg. Roorkee, U.O.R., pp.34–43.

  • Tandon, A.N. and Chatterjee, S.N. (1968) Seismicity studies in India. Indian Jour. Meteor. Geophys., v.19, pp.273–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandon, A.N. (1975) Some typical earthquakes of North and West Uttar Pradesh. Bull. I.S.E.T., v.12, pp.74–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valdiya, K.S. (1976) Himalayan transverse faults and folds and their parallelism with subsurface structures of north Indian plains. Tectonophysics, v.32, pp.353–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verma, R.K. Roonwal, G.S., Kamble, V.P., Mohanty, W.K., Dutta, U., Gupta, Y., Chatterjee, D., Kumar, N. and Chauhan. P. K. S. (1995) Seismicity of Delhi and its surrounding region. Jour. Himalayan Geology, v.I, pp.75–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyss, Max. (2005) Human Loss Expected in Himalayan Earthquakes. Natural Hazards, v.34, pp.305–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. India Meteorological Department, New Delhi, 110 003, India

    Rajesh Prakash

  2. Department of Geology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India

    J. P. Shrivastava

Authors
  1. Rajesh Prakash
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. P. Shrivastava
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. P. Shrivastava.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Prakash, R., Shrivastava, J.P. A review of the seismicity and seismotectonics of Delhi and adjoining areas. J Geol Soc India 79, 603–617 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-012-0099-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-012-0099-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation