Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is still working on a comprehensive earthquake-risk mitigation strategy even as scientific studies have identified pockets of Srinagar where dense construction, narrow roads and inadequate ope…

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is still working on a comprehensive earthquake-risk mitigation strategy even as scientific studies have identified pockets of Srinagar where dense construction, narrow roads and inadequate open spaces could magnify the impact of a major earthquake.@import url(‘https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Playfair+Display:wght@700&family=Roboto+Slab:wght@400&display=swap’);
.dh-inline-infographic{max-width:900px;margin:0 auto;background-color:#ffffff;border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);overflow:hidden;font-family:’Roboto Slab’,serif;text-align:left;position:relative}
.dh-inline-infographic .embed-header{background-color:#0091ac;color:#ffffff;padding:18px;text-align:center}
.dh-inline-infographic .embed-header h2{margin:0;font-family:’Playfair Display’,serif;font-size:15.4px;line-height:1.3}
.dh-inline-infographic .main-concept{padding:14px 18px;border-left:4px solid #0091ac;margin:12px 18px 4px;background-color:#e6f7fa;font-size:14px}
.dh-inline-infographic .main-concept-title{font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:4px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;font-size:12px;color:#005f73}
.dh-inline-infographic .main-concept-text{font-size:14px;line-height:1.5}
.dh-inline-infographic .section-label{padding:4px 18px 0;font-size:12px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.06em;color:#666}
.dh-inline-infographic .section-label.stats-section{padding:0 18px 0;margin-top:-10px}
.dh-inline-infographic .stats-grid{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;padding:4px 18px 4px;background-color:#ffffff;margin-bottom:0}
.dh-inline-infographic .stat-card{flex:1 1 calc(20% – 6px);min-width:120px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0091ac 0%,#006a7e 100%);color:#ffffff;border-radius:6px;padding:8px 8px;text-align:center;box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,145,172,0.25);transition:transform 0.2s ease,box-shadow 0.2s ease}
.dh-inline-infographic .stat-value{font-size:20px;font-weight:700;font-family:’Playfair Display’,serif;margin-bottom:2px;line-height:1.1}
.dh-inline-infographic .stat-label{font-size:9px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;opacity:0.95;line-height:1.2}
.dh-inline-infographic .stat-card:hover{transform:translateY(-2px);box-shadow:0 4px 10px rgba(0,145,172,0.35)}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-disclaimer{padding:0 18px 0;text-align:center;font-size:11px;color:#999;font-style:italic}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsible{border:2px solid #0091ac;border-radius:8px;margin:0;padding:0;display:block;overflow:hidden;background-color:#ffffff}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsible:not([open]){border-color:transparent;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff,#ffffff) padding-box,linear-gradient(90deg,#0091ac,#FFC314,#0091ac,#FFC314,#0091ac) border-box;background-size:100% 100%,300% 300%;animation:inf-border-move 6s linear infinite}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsible[open]{border-color:#0091ac;background:#ffffff;animation:none}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary{list-style:none;cursor:pointer;display:block;margin:0;padding:0;width:100%}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary::marker{content:””}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-card{display:flex;align-items:stretch;justify-content:flex-start;gap:0;padding:0;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#e6f7fa 0%,#f5f5f5 100%);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.06)}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-title{font-family:’Playfair Display’,serif;font-size:15.4px;color:#004b5f;letter-spacing:0.03em;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 4px}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-subtitle{font-family:’Roboto Slab’,serif;font-size:11.2px;color:#4b4b4b}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-text{min-width:0;flex:1 1 auto;padding:14px 18px}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-title,.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-subtitle{overflow-wrap:anywhere}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-toggle-shell{flex:0 0 58px;min-width:58px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;background-color:#e6f7fa;border-left:1px solid #0091ac}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-btn{background-color:transparent;color:#004b5f;padding:0;border-radius:0;font-size:16px;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0.02em;flex:1 1 auto;text-align:center;min-width:0;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;transition:background-color 0.2s ease,transform 0.2s ease}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-less{display:none}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-more{display:none}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-less{display:inline}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-body{padding-bottom:4px}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary:focus-visible{outline:3px solid #0091ac;outline-offset:-3px}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-arrow{width:14px;height:14px;display:block;stroke:currentColor;stroke-width:2.2;fill:none;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round;transform-origin:50% 50%;transition:transform 0.3s ease,filter 0.3s ease,stroke-width 0.3s ease,width 0.3s ease,height 0.3s ease}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary:hover .inf-collapsed-card{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#eef7fa 0%,#e6f7fa 100%)}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary:hover .inf-toggle-shell{background-color:#e9f2f4}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary:hover .inf-arrow{transform:translateY(2px)}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-header-toggle{display:none}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary .embed-header{display:none}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-collapsed-card{display:none}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-summary{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 58px;align-items:stretch;margin:0;padding:0}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-summary .embed-header{display:block;grid-column:1;grid-row:1;padding-right:18px}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-header-toggle{display:inline-flex;grid-column:2;grid-row:1;position:static;z-index:5;align-self:stretch;width:58px;height:auto;min-height:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:0;background-color:#0091ac;border-left:2px solid #0091ac;color:#ffffff;box-shadow:inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(255,255,255,0.1);transition:all 0.3s ease}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-header-toggle:hover{background-color:#006a7e;border-left-color:#0091ac;box-shadow:inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(255,255,255,0.2)}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-header-toggle .inf-arrow{transform:rotate(180deg);width:16px;height:16px;stroke-width:2.5;filter:drop-shadow(0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.15))}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-header-toggle:hover .inf-arrow{transform:rotate(180deg) translateY(2px)}
.dh-inline-infographic .key-points-grid{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;padding:8px 18px 6px;gap:12px;background-color:#ffffff;margin:0 0 18px}.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-card{flex:1 1 calc(33.333% – 16px);min-width:220px;background-color:#f5f5f5;border-radius:8px;padding:12px;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);transition:transform 0.2s ease,box-shadow 0.2s ease}.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-title{font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px;color:#004b5f;font-size:14px}.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-body{font-size:13px;line-height:1.5}.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-card:hover{transform:translateY(-2px);box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12)}
@keyframes inf-border-move{0%{background-position:0 0,0% 50%}100%{background-position:0 0,100% 50%}}
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){
.dh-inline-infographic{background-color:#1a1a1a;box-shadow:0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#e0e0e0}
.dh-inline-infographic .embed-header{background-color:#006a7e}
.dh-inline-infographic .main-concept{background-color:#0a2028;border-left-color:#0091ac}
.dh-inline-infographic .main-concept-title{color:#4dc8e0}
.dh-inline-infographic .main-concept-text{color:#e0e0e0}
.dh-inline-infographic .section-label{color:#aaa}
.dh-inline-infographic .stats-grid{background-color:#1a1a1a}
.dh-inline-infographic .stat-card{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#006a7e 0%,#004b5f 100%);box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.4)}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-disclaimer{color:#777}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsible{background-color:#1a1a1a;border-color:#006a7e}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsible[open]{background:#1a1a1a;border-color:#006a7e}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-card{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0a2028 0%,#111a1f 100%);border-bottom-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.08)}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-title{color:#4dc8e0}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-subtitle{color:#bbb}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-toggle-shell{background-color:#0a2028;border-left-color:#005a6e}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-btn{color:#0091ac}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-header-toggle{background-color:#006a7e}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary:hover .inf-collapsed-card{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0f2830 0%,#0a2028 100%)}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-summary:hover .inf-toggle-shell{background-color:#0f2830}
.dh-inline-infographic .key-points-grid{background-color:#1a1a1a}.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-card{background-color:#2d2d2d;box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.06)}.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-title{color:#4dc8e0}.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-body{color:#e0e0e0}.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-card:hover{background-color:#383838;box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.4)}
}
@media (max-width:700px){
.dh-inline-infographic .main-concept{margin-left:12px;margin-right:12px;padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px}
.dh-inline-infographic .section-label,.dh-inline-infographic .section-label.stats-section,.dh-inline-infographic .stats-grid,.dh-inline-infographic .inf-disclaimer{padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px}
.dh-inline-infographic .stat-card{flex:1 1 calc(33.333% – 6px);min-width:100px}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-card{gap:0;padding:0}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-text{padding:12px}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-title{font-size:13.8px}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-collapsed-subtitle{font-size:10.4px}
.dh-inline-infographic .inf-toggle-shell{flex-basis:50px;min-width:50px}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-summary{grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 50px}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-summary .embed-header{padding-right:12px}
.dh-inline-infographic details[open] .inf-header-toggle{width:50px}
.dh-inline-infographic .key-points-grid{padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px}
.dh-inline-infographic .key-point-card{flex:1 1 100%}
}Quick summary – click for full detailsConcise summary of key highlightsJ&K earthquake risk puts India’s preparedness gap under scrutinyIn one lineJammu and Kashmir’s delayed earthquake-risk mitigation strategy highlights critical urban vulnerabilities and India’s broader disaster preparedness gap.Key points• High Earthquake Vulnerability in SrinagarScientific studies reveal that 23 municipal wards in Srinagar face high earthquake vulnerability due to dense construction and narrow roads.• National Seismic Risk ExposureAbout 59% of India’s landmass is classified as earthquake-prone, with Srinagar situated in the highest-risk Zone V.• Incomplete Risk Assessment PlansA high-level government committee is formulating a hazard and vulnerability assessment, but comprehensive implementation schedules remain pending.• Urgent Need for Infrastructure RetrofittingExperts warn that mitigating future disasters requires converting findings into retrofitting, safer construction, and improved emergency access.Key statistics59%India’s earthquake-prone landmass11%Landmass in highest-risk Zone V18%Landmass in Zone IV23High-vulnerability municipal wards in SrinagarProcessed with AI. Reviewed by DH Digital Team.The issue has a wider national significance. About 59% of India’s landmass is classified as earthquake-prone, with 11% in the highest-risk Zone V and 18% in Zone IV, according to the National Institute of Disaster Management.Srinagar is among the Indian cities located in Zone V.J&K’s latest risk assessment exercise is under way. A high-level committee constituted by the government has been tasked with preparing a hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment covering earthquakes, floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst floods and forest fires.Nepal flood puts Kashmir’s GLOF preparedness to the test as five glacial lakes face ‘very high’ riskNepal disaster puts J&K’s hydropower expansion under fresh safety lensA separate government order specifically requires the earthquake committee to “devise a comprehensive roadmap for earthquake risk management and risk reduction”, identify vulnerabilities and conduct detailed assessments to prioritise mitigation.It has also been asked to examine building safety and recommend measures, including building-code enforcement and earthquake-resilient infrastructure.The government told the Assembly this month that the broader assessment remains incomplete and that a definite schedule for implementing seismic-risk mitigation measures would be considered after the assessment and approval of mitigation measures.The concern is not theoretical.A 2023 peer-reviewed assessment of Srinagar found 23 of its 69 municipal wards, covering about 17 sq km or 7% of the city, in the high or very-high earthquake-vulnerability categories.The study identified the densely built downtown as particularly vulnerable because of high building density, closely spaced structures, narrow roads and limited open spaces.The Himalaya is changing: Is India ready?Earthquake of magnitude 3.6 hits J&K’s BaramullaIt found that about 98% of Srinagar’s buildings are masonry structures and that around 65% have a high possibility of pounding against neighbouring buildings during strong shaking because adequate separation has not been maintained.The researchers also warned that shortage of trauma hospitals and shelters, along with poor road access in some vulnerable wards, could hamper rescue operations.J&K has experienced the consequences before. The October 2005 Kashmir earthquake, measured at 7.6, killed 1,336 people in J&K and damaged more than 1,12,000 houses, according to the Union Home Ministry’s disaster report.India’s wider earthquake record is equally stark. The 1993 Latur earthquake killed about 7,600 people, while the 2001 Bhuj earthquake killed 13,805, according to NIDM data.The lesson from these disasters is that casualties depend heavily on the vulnerability of buildings and the ability to reach people after a collapse.For J&K, therefore, the next step is not simply another risk assessment. It is converting the findings into retrofitting, safer construction, emergency access and protected hospitals and other lifeline infrastructure.The question is whether that work will be completed before the next major earthquake — rather than after it.

Source: Deccan Herald