Four seismic zones cover India, Zone V the most active, and a 2005 Act created the bodies that respond

Background

Approximately 59% of India is vulnerable to earthquakes, and the Bureau of Indian Standards has classified the country into four seismic zones based on earthquake risk. Zone V is the most active, including regions like the Himalayas, while Zone II is the least affected. The Disaster Management Act of 2005 led to the formation of the National Disaster Management Authority, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Management Authorities for efficient disaster response. Earthquakes occur when stress builds up in the Earth's crust, which is made of large plates that move slowly. The 1905 Kangra and 2001 Bhuj earthquakes are among the most catastrophic in India's history: the magnitude 8.0 Kangra earthquake struck Himachal Pradesh and claimed 19,800 lives, and the magnitude 7.9 Bhuj earthquake claimed 12,932 lives and devastated 890 villages. Seismic observatories increased from 80 in 2014 to 168 by February 2025. The BhooKamp app was launched for real-time earthquake updates, and the National Disaster Management Authority's Earthquake Risk Indexing project assesses earthquake risks in 50 cities with plans to cover 16 more.