Dehradun, located in the highly earthquake-sensitive Himalayan region and classified under seismic zones IV and V, will soon undergo a detailed ground stability assessment. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Fourth Paradigm Institute, Bengaluru (formerly known as the Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation), has announced plans to conduct this critical study.
The announcement was made by Dr. Imtiyaz Parvez, Chief Scientist at CSIR, during a workshop on earthquake research held at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology. He stated that the central government has identified several Himalayan cities for seismic vulnerability studies, and Dehradun is one of them.
The study will focus on understanding the sediment composition beneath the city and measuring its thickness in different locations. The objective is to determine how safe various areas of Dehradun are for specific types of construction, based on local seismic sensitivity.
Dr. Parvez also highlighted that the research will extend beyond earthquakes, incorporating analysis of landslide and flood risks across the Himalayan region. The comprehensive project is expected to span three years and is awaiting final approval.
At the workshop’s conclusion, several scientists shared critical insights into the geology of earthquakes. Professor Supriyo Mitra from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, emphasized the importance of understanding the subsurface geology to reduce earthquake-related risks. He noted that major earthquakes in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir have originated from shallow depths—around 10 kilometres—making them three times more dangerous than deeper quakes. He cited the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal as an example, where a deeper epicentre resulted in relatively less damage despite its high magnitude.
Professor Malay Mukul from the Earth Sciences Department at IIT Bombay stressed the need for multi-scale studies—ranging from over a thousand kilometres to nanometer-level investigations—to fully comprehend earthquake mechanisms. Meanwhile, Professor Javed Malik from IIT Kanpur pointed out that understanding future earthquakes requires in-depth research into historical seismic events, which is currently limited. He explained that such studies often involve digging trenches to uncover crucial geological data.