1905 Kangra earthquake

1905 Kangra earthquake
Date April 4, 1905 (1905-04-04)
Magnitude 7.8 Ms[1]
Epicenter [2]
Countries or regions  India, Himachal Pradesh
Casualties more than 20,000

1905 Kangra earthquake was a major earthquake that occurred in the Kangra Valley and the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh in India on 4 April 1905. The earthquake measured 7.8 on the surface wave magnitude scale and killed more than 20,000 people. Apart from this most buildings in towns of Kangra, Mcleodganj and Dharamshala were destroyed.[3][4][5]

Contents

Background

The calculated epicenter of the earthquake lies within the zone of thrusts along the front of the Himalayas formed by the continuing collision of the Indian plate into the Eurasian plate.[6]

Damage

As many as 100,00 buildings were reported to have been demolished by the earthquake. At least 20,000 people are estimated to have been killed and 53,000 domestic animals were also lost. There was also major damage to the network of hillside aqueducts that fed water to the affected area. The total cost of recovering from the effects of the earthquake were calculated as 2.9 million (1905) rupees.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Ambraseys, N. & Bilham, R. 2000. A note on the Kangra Ms = 7.8 earthquake of 4 April 1905, Current Science, 79, 45-50.
  2. ^ Szirtes, S., Publ. Bur. Centr. Assoc. Int. Seismol. Ser. A., Strassburg, 1909, 13–14.
  3. ^ Dharamsala Earthquake 1905 - Images
  4. ^ History Kangra district Official website.
  5. ^ Earthquakes The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 1, p. 98.
  6. ^ Wallace, K. Gaur, V., Blume, F., Hough, S. & Bilham, R. Geodetic Study of the Kangra Earthquake 1905

External links