India has suffered several major earthquakes in past few decades. This natural disaster has claimed million of lives since then. Be it the Kashmir, 8th October 2005 earthquake or Gujarat earthquake in 26th January 2001, more than millions of people got affected due to the natural calamity. Several people died, injured or lost their properties during the earthquakes.
Listed below are the top ten worst earthquakes that occurred in India.
10. Koynanagar, 1967 earthquake
Koynanagar is one of the most earthquake sensitive zone in India. Several earthquake tremors have been recorded in this area since years which claimed few lives. However, the most devastating earthquake occurred on 11th December 1967 and the magnitude of the earthquake was measured to be 6.5 on Richter scale. The natural disaster claimed 180 lives and injured almost 1500 people.
9. Uttarkashi, 1991 earthquake
It is one of the worst earthquakes that occurred in state of Uttarakhand. The epicenter of the earthquake was Garhwal and the magnitude of the quakes was measured to be 6.8 on Richter scale. The natural calamity destroyed more than 1300 villages injuring several thousands. As per official reports around 768 people lost their lives in the disaster.
8. Assam, 1897 earthquake
Assam is among the highly sensitive earthquake zones in India. Several small earthquakes have been frequently recorded in Assam. However, the earthquake occurred in 12th June 1897 was amongst the most deadly natural calamities. The magnitude of the quake was measured to be 8.1 on Richter scale which is very dangerous. The natural disaster claimed almost 1500 lives and injured thousand others. The exact epicenter of the earthquake in Assam is not known.
7. Assam, 1950 earthquake
It is yet another earthquake that shook Assam on 15th August 1950. The epicenter of the natural disaster is recorded as Rima in Tibet and the magnitude of the quake was recorded as 8.6 which also affected parts of Tibet. However, Assam was badly hit by the earthquake which later created the flood like situation in the state. Almost 1,526 people lost their lives in the quake and more than thousand people got injured.
6. Latur, 1993 earthquake
Latur earthquake that occurred in 30th September 1993 was amongst one of the most devastating earthquakes that ever occurred in Maharashtra. On Richter scale the magnitude of the earthquake is measured to be 6.4. However, despite the magnitude being relatively lower, the quakes caused huge destruction. The natural disaster claimed 9748 lives as per official reports and more than thousand people got injured. The epicenter of the earthquake was Killari in Latur. BBC telecasted the detailed coverage of the natural disaster and highlighted the need of development in the neglected city by Maharashtra state government.
5. Kangra, 1905 earthquake
Kangra earthquake that occurred on 4th April 1905 was one of the most lethal earthquakes in India. The earthquake epicenter in Himalayas that shook Kangra was recorded to be of magnitude 7.8 which claimed lives of 20,000 people. As per official reports, more than 100,000 houses were destroyed. The earthquake also killed several animals and uprooted huge trees around the region. It was one of the most devastating earthquakes occurred in India pre independence.
4. Gujarat, 2001 earthquake
Gujarat earthquake was one of the most deadly natural disasters that ever occurred in the state post independence. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Kutch and the magnitude of the quake was recorded to be 7.7 on Richter scale. The natural disaster claimed lives of 20,000 people and damaged several thousand homes in the region. The relief work continued for almost 6 months to restore the normalcy in the region.
3. Bihar, 1934 earthquake
It is one of the most lethal earthquakes that shook Bihar on 15th January 1934. The epicenter of the earthquake was in South of Mount Everest and the magnitude of the quakes was recorded as 8.7 on Richter scale. The natural disaster claimed more than 30,000 lives and caused a widespread destruction around the region.
2. Kashmir, 2005 earthquake
It is one of the most deadly earthquakes occurred in Kashmir post independence. However, the neighboring country Pakistan bore the brunt of the disaster more than India. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir was measured to be of magnitude 7.6 on Richter scale. The tremors of the earthquakes were felt in several north Indian states including Punjab, Delhi, Haryana and Himalchal Pradesh. The deadly earthquake claimed lives of 130,000 people and caused a widespread destruction across the valley.
1. Indian Ocean, 2004 earthquake
Indian Ocean earthquake is one of the most deadly earthquakes that ever occurred in the country. The epicenter of the earthquake was in west coast of Sumatra and the magnitude of the quake was recorded to be around 9.1 – 9.3 on Richter scale. The natural disaster caused the disappearance of several islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The earthquake also triggered lethal tsunami that claimed several lives in India. After the earthquake and tsunami, the death toll climbed up to 283,106 which include deaths in affected countries like India, Indonesia and Srilanka.
In the article above, we have listed top ten worst earthquakes that ever occurred in India.
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