Arunachal Pradesh highly prone to seismic trigger: NGRI study

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute said the Arunachal Pradesh region is extremely stressed and even tiny stresses can cause seismic triggering.

NGRI scientists, who investigated dynamic triggering in Arunachal using data of 34 significant remote and distant quakes, have identified triggered seismicity in the form of microearthquakes and non-volcanic tremors during six remote mainshocks. Arunachal Pradesh, located in north-east India, falls in the seismically active zone.

Abhey Ram Bansal, one of the authors of the study titled 'Tiny stresses are capable of triggering earthquakes and tremors in Arunachal Himalaya' published in 'Scientific Reports' journal, told TOI, "The region is highly vulnerable to seismic activities due to its location at the collision zone of Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The area is prone to earthquakes because of the complex structure of faults and fractures. The region is also well known for the complexity of its geological characteristics."

Tony Saini, lead researcher, told TOI that he plans to carry out a study for the whole Himalayan belt, which will help find stress thresholds and identify sensitive regions within the Himalayas. Bansal said: "Static, quasi-static and dynamic stresses are vital in triggering earthquakes in an area. We have studied seismic triggering while passing large earthquakes' surface waves, which occurred in faraway places. This triggering is known as dynamic triggering or remote triggering."