India’s Earthquake History & Lessons Learned

India has a long and significant history of earthquakes due to its location at the collision zone of the Indian tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate. This tectonic interaction, where the Indian plate is driving into Asia at a rate of approximately 47-50 mm per year, is the primary cause of the high frequency and intensity of seismic activity in the region.

The Himalayan belt, the northeastern states, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and parts of western India, such as Gujarat, are particularly prone to earthquakes.

We will explore an overview of some of the most notable earthquakes in India’s history, focusing on major events that have shaped the country’s seismic understanding and disaster preparedness.

Pre-20th Century Earthquakes

1819 Kutch Earthquake: One of the earliest well-documented earthquakes in India occurred on June 16, 1819, in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. At an estimated magnitude of 7.7-8.3, it caused significant destruction and created a natural dam known as the Allah Bund due to ground uplift. Over 1,500 people died, and the quake was felt across western India.

20th Century Earthquakes

1897 Shillong Earthquake: On June 12, 1897, an earthquake of magnitude 8.7 struck the Shillong Plateau in Assam. It was one of the most powerful earthquakes recorded globally at the time. The event killed around 1,500 people, levelled buildings across northeastern India, and caused widespread landslides. It marked a turning point in seismic studies in India, leading to the establishment of the first seismological observatory in Alipore, Kolkata, in 1898.

1905 Kangra Earthquake: On April 4, 1905, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It resulted in over 20,000 deaths and destroyed entire villages in the Himalayan region. The quake highlighted the vulnerability of the Himalayas to seismic events.

1934 Bihar-Nepal Earthquake: This magnitude 8.0-8.1 earthquake had its epicentre in eastern Nepal, near Mount Everest, but caused extensive damage in northern Bihar and Nepal. Over 10,700 to 12,000 people lost their lives, with towns like Munger and Muzaffarpur completely devastated. The January 15, 1934, quake triggered widespread liquefaction, with sand and water vents erupting across a 300-km “slump belt.”

1950 Assam-Tibet Earthquake: On August 15, 1950, a massive magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck near Rima, Tibet, affecting Assam and surrounding areas. One of the largest earthquakes of the 20^th century, it caused over 1,500 deaths in Assam alone, altered river courses, and triggered landslides that blocked the Brahmaputra River. The event remains a benchmark for seismic hazard in the region.

1967 Koyna Earthquake: On December 11, 1967, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near the Koyna Dam in Maharashtra. It killed around 180 people and injured over 1,500. This event was significant as it was linked to reservoir-induced seismicity, prompting revisions to India’s seismic zoning map and highlighting risks in peninsular India, previously considered stable.

1991 Uttarkashi Earthquake: On October 20, 1991, a magnitude 6.8 quake hit Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, killing over 1,000 people and causing extensive property damage. Tremors were felt as far as Delhi, underscoring the seismic risk in the Himalayan foothills.

1993 Latur Earthquake: On September 30, 1993, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Latur district of Maharashtra, an area not traditionally prone to seismic activity. It resulted in the deaths of over 9,000 people and destroyed thousands of homes, leading to further updates in India’s seismic zoning, merging Zone I with Zone II.

21st Century Earthquakes

2001 Bhuj Earthquake: On January 26, 2001, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Gujarat, with its epicentre near Bhuj. It was one of the deadliest in India’s modern history, claiming over 20,000 lives and injuring more than 150,000. Entire towns were levelled, and the economic loss was estimated at $5 billion. This event spurred significant improvements in earthquake-resistant construction practices in India.

2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami: On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1-9.3 undersea earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra triggered a devastating tsunami that affected the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and coastal Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. Over 12,000 people died in India, with the total death toll across affected countries exceeding 230,000. It was a stark reminder of India’s vulnerability to tsunami-related seismic events.

2005 Kashmir Earthquake: On October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Kashmir region, primarily affecting Pakistan but also causing significant damage in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Over 1,300 people died in India, with the total death toll across the region exceeding 79,000. The quake emphasized the need for cross-border disaster coordination.

2011 Sikkim Earthquake: On September 18, 2011, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit Sikkim, killing over 100 people and causing damage in neighbouring West Bengal and Bihar. It highlighted the ongoing seismic risk in the eastern Himalayas.

Recent Seismic Activity

India continues to experience frequent earthquakes, particularly in the Himalayan region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Between January 2020 and March 2025, a total of 2,768 earthquakes were recorded, according to government data. Notable recent events include a magnitude 5.1 quake southwest of Padam, Kashmir, on March 14, 2025, and a magnitude 5.3 quake in Telangana’s Mulugu district in 2024, indicating that even peninsular India is not immune to seismic activity.

Seismic Zoning and Preparedness

India is divided into four seismic zones (II, III, IV, and V) based on the intensity of potential earthquakes, with Zone V being the most prone (eg., Kashmir, Northeast India, and the Andaman Islands) and Zone II the least (eg., parts of southern India). Over 59% of India’s landmass is vulnerable to moderate-to-severe seismic hazards. The National Centre for Seismology monitors activity through a network of over 160 stations, and organizations like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) work to enhance preparedness through drills, building codes, and public awareness.

Conclusion

India’s earthquake history reflects its complex tectonic setting and underscores the need for continued vigilance and resilience-building. From the great Himalayan quakes of the past to modern disasters like Bhuj and the Indian Ocean tsunami, these events have shaped policies and scientific understanding, though challenges remain in predicting and mitigating their impacts.