Seismic Zones, Faults & Earthquake Hazard in Rajasthan

Earthquake Hazard Zones of Rajasthan

According to GSHAP data, the state of Rajasthan falls in a region of moderate to high seismic hazard. As per the 2002 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) map, Rajasthan falls in Zones II, III & IV. Historically, parts of this state have experienced seismic activity in the M 5.0 range.

Largest Instrumented Earthquake in Rajasthan

  • 15 August 1906 – Thar Desert, Rajasthan, Mw 6.2
  • This event was located along the India-Pakistan border, in the vicinity of Janpalia, Rajasthan which is located north-northwest of Bakhasar.

Classification of districts of Rajasthan according to seismic zones:

S. No.Seismic ZoneIntensity (MSK)MagnitudeDistricts
1IV [High Damage Risk Zone]VII-VIII6.0 – 6.9Some parts of Barmer [Chohtan Block],
Jalore [Sanchore Block]
Alwar [Tijara Block],
and Bharatpur [Block Nagar, Pahari]
2III [Moderate Damage Risk Zone]VI-VII5.0 – 5.9Some parts of Udaipur,
Dungarpur, Sirohi,
Barmer, Jaisalmer,
Bikaner, Jhunjhunu,
Parts of Sikar, Jaipur, Dausa, and Bharatpur.
3II [Low damage Risk Zone]IV-VI4.0 – 4.0Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Churu, Jodhpur,
Pali, Rajasamand, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar,
Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur,
Karauli, Dholpur, Banswara,
some areas of Bikaner, Udaipur,
Jhunjhunu, Sikar, and Jaipur.

Seismic Faults in Rajasthan

Several faults have been identified in Rajasthan, out of which many show evidence of movement during the Holocene epoch.

  • The Cambay Graben terminates in the south-western part of the state.
  • The Konoi Fault near Jaisalmer trends in a north-south direction and was associated with the 1991 Jaisalmer earthquake.

Several active faults criss-cross the Aravalli range and lie parallel to each other.

  • The most prominent of them is the north-south trending Sardar Shahar Fault and
  • The Great Boundary Fault which runs along the Chambal River and then continues in the same direction into Uttar Pradesh.
Great Boundary Fault Rajasthan
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