Archive · 21 Aug 2026
India Must Strengthen Earthquake Preparedness Before Disaster Strikes
Earthquakes can happen suddenly and damage buildings.
Several deadly earthquakes around the world have recently shown how dangerous they can be.
Parts of India, including the Himalayas, the North-East and Kutch, are especially at risk.
Strong building rules and safety checks can help prevent buildings from collapsing.
Older buildings may need repairs or retrofitting to make them safer.
During shaking, people should Drop, Cover and Hold On instead of running.
Families should secure heavy furniture, keep emergency supplies and plan where to go.
Warning systems such as SACHET may give people important alerts before or after an earthquake.
Practicing these actions can help people respond quickly and save lives.
A deadly sequence of earthquakes around the world has underscored the unpredictability of seismic disasters.
India faces particularly high earthquake risks in the Himalayan region, the North-East and Kutch.
The article calls for mandatory safety audits, seismic-code compliance and retrofitting of vulnerable buildings.
Residents are advised to practice Drop, Cover and Hold On, secure heavy objects and prepare emergency kits.
India’s SACHET alert system and Himalayan early-warning network should be expanded nationwide, the article argues.
- Who
- Indian households, public authorities, building owners and residents in earthquake-prone areas.
- What
- The article assesses India’s earthquake preparedness and calls for safer buildings, public education, drills and expanded warning systems.
- When
- It discusses earthquakes reported from April through August and refers to India’s past earthquakes, including the 2001 Bhuj and 2005 Kashmir disasters.
- Where
- The focus is India, especially the Himalayan region, the North-East and Kutch, with lessons drawn from Japan, Turkey and Mexico.
- Why
- To reduce deaths and injuries from earthquakes by improving construction, retrofitting, public awareness, emergency planning and alerts.
- Recent global earthquake deaths
- The article reports deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Venezuela, Japan, Colombia and Indonesia during a six-month period.
- 2001 Bhuj earthquake
- More than 13,800 people were reported killed in Kutch.
- 2005 Kashmir earthquake
- More than 1,350 people were reported killed.
- High-risk Indian areas
- The Himalayan region, the North-East and Kutch are identified as especially vulnerable.
- Safety procedure
- People should Drop, Cover and Hold On during shaking.
- Indian warning system
- SACHET is a Common Alerting Protocol-based system for near-real-time, geo-targeted warnings.
- Early warning coverage
- India has an earthquake early-warning system for parts of the Himalayas, but the article calls for national expansion.
- International example
- More than 1,200 public buildings in Istanbul were reportedly retrofitted or reconstructed under Turkey’s seismic-risk project.