On some likely hazards of the next Great Earthquake of the Garhwal, Kumaun and Western Nepal Himalaya

Abstract

The hill regions of Garhwal, Kumaun, and western Nepal Himalaya have not experienced a great earthquake for atleast one hundred and sixty years. Thus the damage pattern to be anticipated in the epicentral tract and the adjoining plains of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) during a future great earthquake of this seismic gap is unknown. A possible recourse is to select the damage pattern of either the 1905 Kangra or 1934 Bihar-Nepal earthquake as a model. We choose for the purpose the damage pattern of the latter earthquake because of the greater diversity observed in the effects. Thus, since great devastation was caused by earthquake induced soil liquefaction in some parts, and strong ground motion accentuated by local site conditions in other parts of north Bihar plains in 1934, we suggest that potential for earthquake induced soil liquefaction, and strong ground motion should be assessed systematically in all parts of U.P. plains so that suitable measures may be undertaken for mitigation of hazards due to these causes.