PITHORAGARH: The Nepal earthquake that has claimed around 6,300 lives so far, was caused due to tectonic activities in sub-continental thrust which passes through Patna in India to western part of Kathmandu, said an expert today.
It was not caused due to tectonic activities in main central thrust (MCT), added well-known geologist in Himalayan geology and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr K S Waldia.
He was speaking at a science awareness program for school students organized by a local NGO in collaboration with CN RAO foundation of Bengaluru.
Waldia further said that due to an occurrence in sub-continental thrust, the earthquake affected parts of Kathmandu in Nepal as well as parts of Bihar and Terai region of India mainly.
“This massive earthquake of nearly 8 at Richter’s scale, caused over 6 meters earth shifting inside earth at the sub continental thrust regions,” he said.
There are three earthquake-prone thrusts passing through India, first plate passes from Delhi-Haridwar to Nepal, while two sub-continental thrusts pass through Lucknow to western Nepal while third thrust passes from Patna to western part of Kathmandu, Waldia elaborated.
Indian plate is getting struck into Eurasian plate with the speed of 5 mm/year due to which Shivalik Himalayas are coming up with a speed of 1 mm, while lesser Himalayan and greater Himalayan regions are coming up with the speed of 3 and 5 mm/year respectively.
In conclusion, he said that the tensions being generated by this activity at forward part of Indian sub-continent, is main cause of earthquakes in Himalayan region.–PTI
