Sunday, October 16 2005 12:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Delhi is sitting on a potential killer temblor, that can pull down like a pack of cards the several high-rise buildings dotting the skyline here as the city comes under highly seismic Zone-4 category.

The Zone indicates that earthquake measuring upto 6.5 on the Richter Scale could strike the city and its periphery and this intensity could cause severe damage to the buildings that do not conform to the earthquake resistant norms.

"Possibility of earthquake in Delhi cannot be ruled out, as it comes under Zone-4. And the intensity could go up to 6.5 on the Richter Scale," Director of Earthquake Risk Evaluation Center of India Meteorological Department A K Shukla told PTI.

However, the Himalayan range, Jammu and Kashmir, Northeastern states and Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the most earthquake vulnerable areas in the country and could witness high intensity temblors up to eight magnitude, Shukla said. These areas come under Zone five, he said.

Shukla said the categories of zones have been finalized on the basis of previous historical data and the geological characteristics of the place.

If the previous data is any indication, Delhi has already witnessed six high-intensity quakes between 1720 and 1996. The capital region was struck by a quake measuring 6.5 on Richter scale on July 15, 1720. This was followed by another severe quake of 6.8 intensity on September one, 1803. Another four major quakes were experienced on January 16, 1842 (5.5 intensity), October 10, 1956 (6.7), August, 27 1960 (6.0) and August 15, 1966 (5.8).

The Earthquake Risk Evaluation Centre here is at present conducting studies to identify the most quake prone localities in Delhi, Shukla said.

"We will identify the areas soon, which could help the residents enhance their preparedness for any possible disaster," he said.

Shukla said the Indian plate of the earth's crust was moving and colliding with the Eurasian plate leading to quakes. The formation of the Himalayas was possible due to such quakes, he said.

The Director said the people of Delhi should go for earthquake-resistant buildings. The Bureau of Indian Standards and Indian Institutes of Technology have developed several models of earthquake resistant structures.

IIT, Roorkee has developed models for special earthquake-resistant structures for nuclear plants, dams, bridges and industrial complexes.

Techniques for retrofitting the old houses are also available, he said.

The IMD data showed the country has witnessed 12 major earthquakes measuring over seven in Richter scale, including the latest one of 7.4 intensity in South Asia last week. The Shillong plateau was hit by the most severe quake measuring 8.7 in Richter Scale on June 12, 1897.