An earthquake of 3.1 magnitude struck Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand on Tuesday, 28 May 2024 morning around 6.43 am with the epicentre around 5 km beneath the earth’s surface, according to the National Center for Seismology website.
On Monday, 27 May 2024 also a 2.2 magnitude earthquake was reported in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand at 9.22 pm, over a fortnight after another earthquake of 2.8 magnitude was reported in the same district on 11 May 2024. Earlier this month, on May 7, a 2.6 magnitude earthquake was reported in Uttarkashi district.
Last month, the state reported two earthquakes, in Dehradun district on 17 April 2024 of magnitude 2.8, and another in Haridwar district of magnitude 3.
The Himalayas are the youngest mountain range (around 50 million years old) in the world and reports high seismic activity, with most areas falling under Seismic Zones IV and V.
Hyderabad based National Geophysical Research Institute’s (NGRI) chief scientist Dr N Purnachandra Rao warned against a possibility of an earthquake of high magnitude in Uttarakhand in the near future. Stating the reason behind his prediction, Rao said the movement of the Indian plate – about five cm per year – is leading to the accumulation of stress along the Himalayas which could result in an earthquake. “Earth’s surface comprises various plates that are constantly in motion. The Indian plate is moving about 5 cm per year, leading to accumulation of stress along the Himalayas increasing the possibility of a greater earthquake,” said Dr N Purnachandra Rao, a chief scientist at NGRI.
He said, “The region referred to as the seismic gap between Himachal and the western part of Nepal including Uttarakhand is prone to earthquakes that might occur at any time.” He also noted that Uttarakhand is equipped with a strong network of 18 seismograph stations to monitor ground motions.