Earthquakes in Chhattisgarh, India

State - Chhattisgarh, India
Capital - Raipur
Population - 20,795,956 (2001)

Population per district (Top 5)
Raipur - pop. 3,016,930
Durg - pop. 2,810,436
Bilaspur - pop. 1,998,355
Surguja - pop. 1,972,094
Janjgir-Champa - pop. 1,317,431

Earthquake History
Chhatisgarh has very low rates of seismic activity. In recent years, tremors from earthquakes in neighbouring states have been felt, most notably in 1969. Minor seismic activity has been recorded (2) in the vicinity of Chiraikund and Muirpur along the border with Madhya Pradesh. A few faults which form the eastern section of the Narmada-Son Fault Zone have shown movement during the Holocene epoch (2). Another active fault (2) is the Tatapani Fault which trends in an east-west direction in the vicinity of Manpura in Sarguja district. In the south, the Godavari fault, which forms the northern flank of the Godavari Graben run through the southern part of the state and is also active (2).

Seismic Hazard

The seismic hazard map of India was updated in 2000 (4) by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The main change in the map for the state of Chhatisgarh was the merging of Zones I and II under which much of the state falls. A sliver of the district of Dantewara lies in Zone II. Parts of the the northern districts of Bilaspur, Janjgir, Jashpur, Korba, Koria and Sarguja lie in Zone III. Since the earthquake database in India is still incomplete, especially with regards to earthquakes prior to the historical period (before 1800 A.D.), these zones offer a rough guide of the earthquake hazard in any particular region and need to be regularly updated (See also: GSHAP Hazard Map for Chhattisgarh).
 

Largest Instrumented Earthquake in Chhattisgarh
10 October 2000 - Surta-Ambikapur area, Chhatisgarh, mb 4.5 (7).
23.060 N, 82.917 E, D=005.4 kms, 06:11:32 UTC (3)
This event is located to the north-east of Korba. This event had an ML of 3.7 (3).

Significant Earthquakes  in Chhattisgarh
The following list briefly outlines known earthquakes in this region which either had observed intensities of V or higher (historical events) or had known magnitudes of M4.5 or more (instrumented events). General locations are provided for historical events for which "generalized" epicentral co-ordinates are available. Some events which were significant for other reasons are also included. This list will be updated whenever newer information is available. Please note that Magnitude and Intensity are NOT THE SAME. All events are within the state or union territory covered on this page unless stated otherwise.

Acronyms Used:
D=Depth, OT=Origin Time, Mw=Moment Magnitude, Ms=Surface Wave magnitude, Mb=Body Wave Magnitude, ML=Local Magnitude, M?=Magnitude Type unknown

05 January 1954 - Gorka-Konta area, Madhya Pradesh, M? 4.0 (5).
18.000 N, 81.300 E
Maximum observed intensity V (5). This earthquake occurred in the southern district of Dantewara.

12 February 1996 - Lemru area, Chhatisgarh, ML 4.3 (7).
22.616 N, 82.893 E, D=033.0, OT=20:39:54 UTC (7)
This event is located to the north-east of Korba.

22 May 1997 - Jabalpur-Kosamghat area, Madhya Pradesh, Mw 5.8 (7)
23.083 N, 80.041 E, D=36 kms, OT=22:51:28.7 UTC (7)
38 people were killed, and more than a thousand were hurt in the city of Jabalpur and the surrounding areas. This was the first major earthquake to be centred near a densely populated urban area in several years.

10 October 2000 - Surta-Ambikapur area, Chhatisgarh, mb 4.5 (7).
23.060 N, 82.917 E, D=005.4 kms, 06:11:32 UTC (3)
This event is located to the north-east of Korba. This event had an ML of 3.7 (3).

10 June 2001 - Ambikapur area, Chhatisgarh, ML 3.6 (3).
23.030 N, 83.154 E, D=016.5 kms, 01:12:18 UTC (3)
Felt in Ambikapur and the adjoining areas.

12 June 2001 - Konokjora-Sundargarh area, Orissa, Mw 4.7
22.240 N, 83.918 E, D=025.5 kms, OT=12:41:00 UTC
A light earthquake struck the Sundergarh region in western Orissa, on 12 July 2001 at 18:11 PM local time and was felt in many parts of the region, including in adjoining parts of Chhattisgarh. It had a magnitude of Mw=4.7.

13 April 2007 - Jaldega-Dharamjaygarh area, Chhattisgarh, M 3.1
22.700 N, 83.200 E, D=010.0 kms, OT=11:49:42 UTC
A mild earthquake struck the southern Chhota Nagpur Plateau to the north of Dharamjaygarh in Chhattisgarh, India, on 13 April 2007 at 17:19 PM local time. It had a magnitude of M?=3.1 and was felt strongly in parts of the region.