Shimla/Mandi(HP), Dec 17 (UNI) In the wake of Himachal Pradesh being classified entirely under Seismic Zone-VI, the highest risk category in India’s updated earthquake map, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has launched a major scientific initiative to enhance 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 study will later expand across the Himalayas to identify areas with higher probabilities of seismic events.
The three-year project is being undertaken at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi, and is led by Mahesh Reddy, with Dericks P. Shukla and Dhanya J. serving as co-principal investigators. One of its defining features is the integrated use 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 across large areas. Together, these tools will enable scientists to track slow geodynamic changes that often precede major earthquakes.
During the 36-month study period, researchers will analyse geological formations, slope stability, rock composition, and historical seismicity of Mandi and the surrounding regions. According to Associate Professor Dericks P. Shukla, the project will result in a scientifically validated model capable of improving seismic risk assessment and planning.
The findings are expected to feed directly into state and national disaster-management strategies, revision of earthquake-resistant building norms and infrastructure audits, particularly critical as Himachal witnesses rapid expansion of tunnels, hydropower projects, rail lines, and four-lane highways.
The project will also generate skilled manpower in seismology, geoinformatics, and remote sensing, strengthening the state’s long-term capacity to respond to seismic hazards in one of India’s most vulnerable mountain regions.
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