Capital shock
Delhi will be flattened within a few seconds, even if an earthquake strikes the Himalaya. Being on the Delhi-Haridwar ridge and in seismic IV zone, earthquakes of the magnitude 5-6 on the Richter scale can visit the region often and those with the magnitude of 6-8, can happen occasionally. According to Seismic Status of Delhi Mega City by renowned seismologist R N Iyengar, the probability of an earthquake of 7.0 striking Delhi is 80 per cent. And an earthquake of Richter 6.0 magnitude striking in a period of 50 years is almost certain.
If such an earthquake strikes Delhi, 50 per cent of the city's metropolitan area would be damaged. The most earthquake-prone areas like east Delhi are also the most densely populated. If an earthquake of 7.0 strikes Delhi, damage to buildings in a small cluster of 9,700 households would cost around Rs 471 million for reconstruction. According to the Vulnerability Atlas of India, around 92 per cent of Delhi's buildings have moderate to high damage risks.
Any major earthquake in the north India will also affect Delhi. Tremors of the 1993 Uttarkashi earthquake and the 1999 Chamoli earthquake were felt in Delhi. In the Chamoli earthquake
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