Context

• The editorial discusses a 4.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Delhi on July 10, 2025. Though moderate, it has reignited concerns about India's seismic vulnerability due to its location on a tectonically active plate and poor compliance with seismic codes in major urban centres like Delhi. 

Background

• India lies on the seismically active Indian Plate, which is colliding with the Eurasian Plate at 4-5 cm/year, giving rise to the Himalayan seismic belt. 
• Delhi, located in Seismic Zone IV, recently experienced a 4.4 magnitude quake on July 10, 2025, with an epicentre 20 km southwest of the city.
• Over 80% of Delhi's buildings, especially pre-2000, do not comply with the IS 1893:2016 seismic code.

India's Earthquake Preparedness 

• National Centre for Seismology (NCS): Operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences; monitors seismic activity through 115 observatories and shares realtime data with disaster management authorities.
• National Mitigation Centrally Earthquake Project sponsored Risk (NERMP): NDMA scheme in seismic zones IV & V; focuses on enforcing techno-legal regimes, institutional strengthening, and public awareness. 
• Earthquake-Resistant Building Codes: Guidelines from BIS, ВМТРС, and HUDCO ensure adoption of resilient construction practices, circulated widely among stakeholders. 
• Earthquake Disaster Risk Index: NDMA-developed index assesses risk in high-seismic zones (IV & V), guiding cities in disaster planning and mitigation strategies.

Challenges Highlighted 

• High Vulnerability: Delhi houses 33.5 million residents and over 5,000 high-rises, most of which are non-compliant with seismic norms. Areas like East Delhi have liquefaction-prone soils, increasing collapse risk.
• Unprepared Urban Spaces: Rapid, unregulated urbanisation, especially in high-risk zones (Zone IV & V), exacerbates seismic risks. 
• Poor Code Enforcement: IS 1893:2016 is not enforced properly across cities. Even critical areas like Guwahati and Bhuj face enforcement gaps. 
• Limited Public Awareness and Early Warning Usage: Tools like IndiaQuake app exist, but public awareness and integration with emergency systems remain weak.
• Himalayan Seismic Gap: The region is overdue for a "Great Himalayan Earthquake" (>8 magnitude), with potential impacts on 300+ million people in India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Way Forward

• Rigorous Enforcement of Seismic Codes: Strengthen implementation of IS 1893:2016 in all seismic zones, particularly in Zones IV and V.
• Retrofitting & Resilient Construction: Retrofit older buildings using steel jacketing. 
• - Mandate deep pile foundations and base isolation in vulnerable areas. 
• - Avoid construction in floodplains like the Brahmaputra basin. 
• Public Awareness & Community Preparedness: Launch public education campaigns on emergency kits, evacuation drills, and safe construction.
• Institutional Reforms & Investments: Annual retrofitting investment of 50,000 crore is needed and train community-level disaster response teams.
• National Dialogue & Leadership: Government must initiate a national discourse and strategy for seismic resilience and disaster risk reduction. 
• Global Best Practices: Emulate Bangkok's high-strength concrete standards and ductile detailing, and avoid Myanmar's mistakes of weak code enforcement.