Padma Shri Dr Harsh K Gupta, Delivers Lecture on “Developing an Earthquake Resilient Society”

JAMMU, March 13- Under the aegis of Amrit Kaal Trans-Disciplinary Lecture Series, Padma Shri Dr Harsh K Gupta, NASI Platinum Jubilee Fellow, President, Geological Society of India, Member, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, India, Past President, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). Delivers lecture on “Developing an Earthquake Resilient Society.” Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gupta underlined that the best way to make society aware of the risks of earthquakes is to simulate real-world scenarios of a major earthquake that had struck the same region in the past.

Understanding the consequences of large-scale scenarios such as estimating the possible number of lives that will be lost and the number of injuries,   conducting mega mock drills in those areas, School sensitisation programmes keep in view that children are the most valuable assets of society and Strengthening of lifeline buildings are the major components of such a simulation, said Dr Gupta. He further mentioned that the largest earthquake that has ever occurred in the Himalayas was the 8.7 Assam Earthquake in 1952.

He held the view that an earthquake of magnitude greater than this (>9) is highly unlikely because a long fault to release a large amount of energy corresponding to this magnitude is not present in the Himalayas.  The aftershocks after a major earthquake pose a significant risk to already damaged structures and rescue efforts. His research work has estimated that aftershocks of more than magnitude 5 could occur for around 300 days after the initial main shock. He relayed that it was explicitly seen that before 1958, earthquakes affected a relatively smaller population. But post-2000, the significant rise in population has put a larger population at risk of earthquake-related hazards.

Prof Umesh Rai, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu in his presidential address enumerated the immense contributions of Padma Shri Dr Harsh K. Gupta in the field of seismology and the national and international awards that he has received for his excellence.

He further said that more and more awareness needs to be created in this regard. Prof Rajni Kant, Dean Research Studies, University of Jammu commended the efforts by the Vice-Chancellor, under whose leadership, the university has widened its scope beyond academics by frequently holding important talks, lectures and seminars. In the introductory remarks, Prof. Sundeep K Pandita, Director, HRDC stressed the need for earthquake awareness in light of the recent devastating earthquake that struck the Turkiye-Syria border and those that have occurred in our state in the last two decades. He emphasised the Amrit Kaal series, has emerged as a leading platform for bringing eminent experts to the university for holding talks on real-world issues. Dr Anil Gupta, Associate Dean, Students Welfare delivered a formal vote of thanks. Ifra Kak, Cultural Officer conducted the proceedings of the function.

Prominent among others, Prof Neelu Rohmetra, Director, Directorate of Distance Education, Prof Rajive Rattan, Director, CDC, Prof Neeru Sharma, Incharge Librarian, Prof Samridhi Arora, Head, Dept of Home Sciences, Prof G.M Bhat, Dr Bindra Thusu, Dr Dauood Iqbal Baba, Director, S&PE, Dr Imran Farooq, Nodal Officer, Amrit Kaal Initiatives and Officers from State Disaster Response Force, faculty members and Students from Cluster University were also present on the occasion.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)