1991 Uttarkashi earthquake
UTC+5:30) | |
| Duration | ~ 45 seconds[1] |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 6.8 Mw[2] |
| Depth | 11.6 km (7 mi)[2] |
| Epicenter | 30°45′N 78°49′E / 30.75°N 78.82°E[2] |
| Type | Reverse[3] |
| Areas affected | Uttar Pradesh India |
| Total damage | $60 million[4] |
| Max. intensity | MMI IX (Violent) [5] |
| Peak acceleration | 0.31 g[5] |
| Casualties | 768–2,000 dead[3] 1,383–1,800 injured[3] |
The 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake (also known as the Garhwal earthquake) occurred at 02:53:16 Indian Standard Time (UTC+05:30) on 20 October with a moment magnitude of 6.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). This thrust event was instrumentally recorded and occurred along the Main Central Thrust in the Uttarkashi and Gharwal regions of the Indian state of Uttarakhand (then still part of Uttar Pradesh). High intensity shaking resulted in the deaths of at least 768 people and the destruction of thousands of homes.
Tectonic setting
The Garhwal division in northern India, flanked by the Tons River to the west and the Alaknanda River to the east, is located at the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. In the region, the Indian Plate is moving northeastward at a rate of 5 centimeters (2.0 in) per year. The Main Central Thrust is the primary northwest-striking structure and dips to the north at 30–40°. The fault plane solutions from the parametric catalogs for the 1991 and 1999 events showed low-angle thrust faulting with varying amounts of strike-slip movement.[6]
Earthquake
Six three-axis accelerometers that were within 60 km (37 mi) captured the event, including two units that were close to the projection of the fault at the surface. Analysis of the data recorded by these devices revealed the distribution of slip, moment release over time, and the location of the maximum slip. The mechanism of the event was typical of the thrust system of the Himalayas, with maximum slip (1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)) occurring to the west and southwest of the hypocenter. Energy release began slowly and built to a crescendo four seconds after the initiation of the rupture.[7]
Damage
Scientists from the
The United States' National Geophysical Data Center and the Belgian Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters' EM-DAT database both list 1,500 fatalities for the event with EM-DAT also listing 1,383 injuries. The USGS' Preliminary Determination of Epicenters and the Utsu catalog both list 2,000 deaths and 1,800 injured.[3]
Intensity
See also
References
- ^ a b c ISC (2016), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2012), Version 3.0, International Seismological Centre
- ^ a b c d USGS (4 September 2009), PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2008_06.1, United States Geological Survey
- ^ doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
- ^ S2CID 128901914
- ^ a b Jain, Sudhir. K.; Singh, Ramesh P.; Gupta, Vinay K.; Nagar, Amit (1992), Garhwal Earthquake of Oct. 20, 1991 (PDF), EERI Special Earthquake Report, vol. 26, National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering, pp. 1–3
Further reading
- Thakur, V. C.; Sushil, K. (1994), "Seismotectonics of the 20 October 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake in Garhwal, Himalaya, North India", Terra Nova, 6 (1): 90–94,
- Valdiya, K. S. (1991), "The Uttarkashi earthquake of 20 October: Implications and lessons", Current Science, 61 (12): 801–803, JSTOR 24095349
External links
- M 6.8 – Uttaranchal, India – United States Geological Survey
- The Great Himalayan Earthquakes – Himalayan Journal
- The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.