Earthquakes in Rajasthan, India

State - Rajasthan, India
Capital - Jaipur
Population - 56,473,122 (2001)

Million+ Cities
Jaipur - pop. 2,324,319

Population per district (Top 5)
Jaipur - pop. 5,251,071
Alwar - pop. 2,992,592
Jodhpur - pop. 2,886,505
Nagaur - pop. 2,775,058
Udaipur - pop. 2,633,312

Earthquake History
Though the state of Rajasthan has not had a major earthquake in recent years, small to moderate earthquake have been felt in the state. Several faults have been identified in this region out of which many show evidence of movement (3) during the Holocene epoch. The Cambay Graben (3) terminates in the south-western part of the state. The Konoi Fault (3) near Jaiselmer trends in a north-south direction and was associated with the 1991 Jaiselmer earthquake. Several active faults criss-cross the Aravalli range and lie parallel to each other. The most prominent of them is the north-south trending Sardar Shahr Fault (3) and the Great Boundary Fault (3) which runs along the Chambal River and then continues in the same direction into Uttar Pradesh. However, it must be stated that proximity to faults does not necessarily translate into a higher hazard as compared to areas located further away, as damage from earthquakes depends on numerous factors such as subsurface geology as well as adherence to the building codes.

Seismic Hazard

The seismic hazard map of India was updated in 2000 (6) by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Apart from the merging of Zones I and II, there are no major changes in the new hazard map with respect to the state of Rajasthan, as compared with the previous 1984 BIS map. Western parts of the districts of Barmer and Sirohi as well as northern sections of Alwar district lie in Zone IV, where the maximum intensity could reach VIII (MSK). The remaining areas of Barmer and Sirohi districts, as well as the districts of Bikaner, Jaiselmer and Sirohi lie in Zone III. The north-eastern districts of Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Bharatpur and the rest of Alwar also lie in Zone III. The maximum intensity expected in these areas would be around MSK VII. The rest of the state, including the capital, Jaipur, lie in Zone II, where the maximum intensity expected would be around MSK VI. It must be noted that BIS estimates the hazard, based in part, on previous known earthquakes. 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 Rajasthan).

Largest Instrumented Earthquake in Rajasthan
15 August 1906 - Thar Desert, Rajasthan, Mw 6.2 (1)
25.00 N, 71.00 E, OT=22:11 UTC (1)
This event was located along the India-Pakistan border, in the vicinity of Janpalia, Rajasthan which is located north-northwest of Bakhasar. It was felt widely along the Indo-Pakistan border, Sindh, and Gujarat. It was also felt for several seconds in Rajputana, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad and around the Gulf of Khambat and at Mirpur in Pakistan.

Significant Earthquakes in Rajasthan
The following list briefly outlines known earthquakes in this region which either had observed intensities of VI or higher (historical events) or had known magnitudes of M5.0 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

26 April 1848 - Disa area, Gujarat.
24.40 N, 72.20 E (3)
Maximum observed intensity VII (3). This is often referred to as the Mt. Abu earthquake.

02 January 1849 - Sheoganj-Jawai Bandh area, Gujarat.
25.15 N, 73.15 E (8)
Maximum observed intensity VI (8). This area is located north-west of Udaipur.

15 August 1906 - Thar Desert, Rajasthan, Mw 6.2 (1)
25.00 N, 71.00 E, OT=22:11 UTC (1)
This event was located along the India-Pakistan border, in the vicinity of Janpalia, Rajasthan which is located north-northwest of Bakhasar. It was felt widely along the Indo-Pakistan border, Sindh, and Gujarat. It was also felt for several seconds in Rajputana, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad and around the Gulf of Khambat and at Mirpur in Pakistan.

12 July 1907 - Tharpakar (Sindh), Pakistan, Mw 5.6 (1)
25.00 N, 70.00 E, 17:20 UTC (1)
Felt in Sindh, Pakistan and at Ahmedabad and Jodhpur, India.

31 October 1940 - Thar Desert, Rajasthan, Ms 5.6 (3).
27.50 N, 70.25 E, OT=10:43:56 UTC (3)
This event was located to the north-west of Ramgarh and to the north-west of Jaiselmer.

10 October 1956 - Khurja-Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, Ms 6.2 (3)
28.20 N, 77.70 E, OT=15:31:36 UTC (3)
The massive shock was centred near Jehangirpur, in Bulandshahr District. No fatalities were reported. The shock was also strongly at many locations in northern India, including at Jaipur and Dholpur in Rajasthan.

01 September 1962 - Khed Brahma-Vadali area, Gujarat, Ms 5.0 (3).
23.00 N, 73.00 E (3)
This event was located north of Himatnagar in north Gujarat, along the border with Rajasthan.

24 October 1969 - Dantrai-Jaswantpura area, Gujarat, Mb 4.9 (3).
24.76 N, 72.54 E, OT=11:45:55 UTC (3)
This earthquake is referred to as the Mount Abu earthquake. It caused minor damage to mud masonry buildings (3). The focal mechanism (3) for this earthquake indicated a thrust event with a small strike-slip component.

18 May 1974 - Pokhran Nuclear Test, Rajasthan, Mb 5.0 (3).
26.95 N, 71.70 E, OT=02:34:55 UTC (3)
This was the first nuclear test carried out by India at the Pokhran testing facility to the east of Jaiselmer.

08 November 1991 - Bersi-Tejrawa (Jaiselmer) area, Rajasthan, Mw 5.4 (11).
26.38 N, 70.66 E, OT=15:13:44 UTC (3)
Maximum intensity VIII (3). Few houses collapsed in Konoi village and 90% of the structures in the village developed cracks. A 500-metre long fissure was observed in the same village. It was felt over an area of 130 square kilometres, including at Jaiselmer, Barmer and Kishengarh.

11 May 1998 - Pokhran Nuclear Test, Rajasthan, mb 5.2 (10).
27.105 N, 71.802 E, OT=10:13:41 UTC (10)
The is the first nuclear test conducted by India after 1974. Three devices were detonated simultaneously. They consisted of (12) a 45 kiloton thermonuclear device, a 15 kiloton fission device and a subkiloton device. Interestingly this test was initially reported as an earthquake on the India-Pakistan border by the prototype International Data Centre (pIDC) which verifies the compliance of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

26 January 2001 - Bhachau-Chobari (Bhuj) area, Gujarat, Mw 7.7
23.442 N, 70.310 E, D=16.0 kms, OT=03:16:40 UTC
A major earthquake struck Gujarat at 08:46 AM local time resulting in close to 13,823 deaths and extensive damage to property in Gujarat. Damage to a lesser extent also occurred in the adjoining states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan in India and in Sindh province, Pakistan.

28 January 2001 - Suvi-Rapar area, Gujarat, Mw 5.8
23.532 N, 70.598 E, D=10.0 kms, OT=01:02:10 UTC
A moderate to strong aftershock struck Gujarat, at 06:32 AM local time causing considerable panic in Gujarat, India. Tremors were also felt in adjoining parts of Maharashtra & Rajasthan.

10 August 2003 - Shahpura-Jaipur region, Mb 4.5
27.378 N, 75.981 E, OT=11:17:55 UTC
A light earthquake struck the district of Jaipur at 16:47 PM local time causing minor damage to some buildings and some panic in parts of Rajasthan & Haryana. It was also felt as far as Delhi.

19 February 2004 - Jalore region, ML 4.1
25.300 N, 72.662 E, OT=02:40:49 UTC
A light earthquake struck the district of Jalore in south-eastern Rajasthan at 08:10 AM local time causing some panic in parts of the region.

29 November 2006 - Alwar region, Mb 4.0
27.348 N, 76.830 E, D=010.0 kms, OT=11:11:14 UTC
A light earthquake struck the Alwar region in north-eastern Rajasthan at 11:11 local time causing minor damage to property and at least one death. The earthquake was felt at many places in the region and as far as Delhi.

24 December 2006 - Jaipur region, Mb 4.3
26.881 N, 76.154 E, D=010.0 kms, OT=22:43:26 UTC
A light earthquake struck the Jaipur region in north-eastern Rajasthan on 24 December 2006 at 04:13 local time causing minor panic in the city of Jaipur. The earthquake had a magnitude of Mb=4.3 and was felt in parts of Jaipur and Jhunjhunu districts.

7 July 2008 - Bhilwara region, M 3.6
25.800 N, 74.200 E, D=010.0 kms, OT=11:59:37 UTC
A mild earthquake occurred on the Northern Aravalis in Rajasthan, India, on 5 July 2008 at 17:29 PM local time. It had a magnitude of M?=3.6 and was felt in parts of the districts of Ajmer, Bhilwara and Pali.

9 April 2009 - Jaisalmer region, Mw=5.1
27.130 N, 70.769 E, D=043.3 kms, OT=01:46:58 UTC
A moderate earthquake struck the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan on 9 April 2009 at 07:16 AM local time. It had a magnitude of Mb=5.1 and was felt in a large part of the region along the India-Pakistan border. Minor damage and several injuries were reported from Jaisalmer district.

7 April 2010 - Alwar region, M?=3.3
27.800 N, 76.700 E, D=22 kms, OT=07:05:31 UTC
A mild earthquake struck Alwar district in Rajasthan near the village of Rasgan on 7 April 2010 at 12:35 PM local time. It had a magnitude of M?=3.3 and was felt in several parts of Alwar district.

15 August 2010 - Ajmer region, M?=4.0
26.400 N, 74.300 E, D=10.0 kms, OT=06:08:58 UTC
A light earthquake struck Ajmer district in Rajasthan on 15 August 2010 at 22:42 PM local time. It had a magnitude of M?=4.0 and was widely felt in the district of Ajmer as well as in the neighbouring districts of Nagaur and Pali.

10 November 2010 - Rajsamand region, Mb=4.5
25.463 N, 73.725 E, D=130.9 kms, OT=22:46:33 UTC
A light earthquake occurred in the southern Aravalli range in Rajsamand district, Rajasthan, on 10 November 2010 at 04:16 AM local time in India. It had a magnitude of Mb=4.5 and was widely felt in southern and central Rajasthan as well as in adjacent parts of Madhya Pradesh causing widespread minor damage as well as one injury.