In response to Himachal Pradesh being classified entirely under Seismic Zone-VI, the highest risk category in India’s latest earthquake map, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has launched a major scientific initiative to improve earthquake preparedness in the Himalayan region.
Funded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the three-year project aims to develop time-independent forecasting models for earthquakes of magnitude 6 and above. Initially focused on Mandi, the research will later expand across the Himalayas to identify regions with higher seismic risk.
The project, hosted at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi, is led by Mahesh Reddy, with Dericks P. Shukla and Dhanya J. as co-principal investigators. A key feature of the study is the integration of conventional seismic records with advanced satellite-based technologies.
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data will track tectonic plate movements with millimetre-level precision, while Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) will detect land deformation, uplift, subsidence, and stress accumulation along fault zones. These tools will allow scientists to monitor slow geodynamic changes that often precede major earthquakes.
Over the 36-month study period, researchers will analyse geological formations, slope stability, rock composition, and historical seismicity of Mandi and surrounding regions. According to Associate Professor Dericks P. Shukla, the project will produce a scientifically validated model that can improve seismic risk assessment and planning.
The findings are expected to directly support state and national disaster-management strategies, revision of earthquake-resistant building codes, and infrastructure audits—especially important as Himachal Pradesh undergoes rapid development of tunnels, hydropower projects, rail lines, and highways.
Additionally, the project will develop skilled manpower in seismology, geoinformatics, and remote sensing, strengthening the state’s long-term capacity to manage seismic hazards in one of India’s most earthquake-prone regions.
