Major quake may hit Uttarakhand: National Centre for Seismology

Director of National Centre for Seismology Vineet Gehlot said on Wednesdaya major earthquake is due to hitUttarakhand's Garhwal Himalaya, potentially damaging several parts of North India.

In the past, the possibility of severe earthquakes in the region have been slim, however, smaller quakes havehit the arealetting out energy which could lead to a massive jolt,Gehlot said.

"Statistics indicate there is a possibility of a major earthquake in Uttarakhand in the future. Reasons to believe so, no major earthquake has struck the region in past 500-700 years and energy required to build major earthquakes is accumulating since 100 years," Director of National Centre for SeismologyVineet Gehlot said.

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He further urged that maximum precautions must be taken which could include safe building codes, proper planning in advance in order to be prepared as damage could occur in lowlands.

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake had hit Uttarakhand in February, with its tremors reaching Delhi-NCR and many states innorth and east India.