Kullu, April 4
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) of Kullu held an awareness event at Atal Sadan, Dhalpur, on Friday to mark the 121st anniversary of the Kangra earthquake. The program focused on earthquake preparedness and promoting safe construction practices in the region.
The event included first-aid training, lectures on earthquake-resistant construction, and a street play to educate residents about disaster response. A civic solidarity march started and ended at Rath Maidan, passing through Mall Road, College Gate, and the Regional Hospital in Kullu.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Kullu, Ashwani Kumar, stated that the program aimed to increase public awareness and strengthen community disaster preparedness.
“Training in first aid techniques, lectures on safe construction practices, and awareness-based skits were presented at Atal Sadan as part of this initiative,” ADM Kumar told attendees.
DDMA Coordinator Prashant highlighted Himachal Pradesh’s significant seismic vulnerability, noting that while districts were previously classified under Seismic Zones IV and V, a revised map now places the entire state in Zone VI, the highest risk category.
“This means the entire state now falls within a high seismic pressure zone, and the government is working to implement advanced disaster preparedness and earthquake-resistant planning across all districts,” Prashant said. Kaushalya Negi of the Jal Shakti Department cited a 2012 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) study that projected a magnitude 8.0 earthquake striking Himachal Pradesh at midnight could be catastrophic. Based on 2011 census data, the study estimated about 1,60,000 fatalities, or 2.3 percent of the population, and nearly 11,00,000 injuries, representing about 16 percent of the state’s population.
“These figures show that earthquake-resistant construction is essential. This event will help raise awareness of safer building practices to minimize loss of life and property during a major earthquake,” Negi said.
The anniversary serves as a reminder of the catastrophic 1905 Kangra earthquake, one of the deadliest seismic events in the Indian subcontinent, which caused widespread destruction in the region. She also emphasized that, with the entire state now in the highest seismic risk zone, ongoing public education and strict adherence to earthquake-resistant construction norms are essential for building community resilience against future disasters.
