States » EastPosted at: Nov 11 2026 6:16PM


Eastern Bhubaneswar faces higher seismic Risk: NCS Study

Bhubaneswar, Nov 11 (UNI) While Odisha has long been vulnerable to cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal, a scientific assessment has highlighted another natural hazard that warrants greater attention , earthquake vulnerability, particularly in the eastern parts of Bhubaneswar.
A detailed seismic microzonation study conducted by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) has identified moderate to high seismic hazard in the eastern belt of the state capital, especially along the Kuakhai and Daya river systems, raising concerns over the safety and design of tall buildings, bridges and other major infrastructure in the region.
Releasing the findings at the inauguration of a three-day national workshop on ‘Environmental Hazards and Disaster Management’ at SOA Deemed to be University here on Wednesday, NCS Director Dr. G. Suresh said Bhubaneswar's eastern areas required greater attention in earthquake-resistant construction because of their underlying soft soil conditions.
"Odisha is a region of moderate seismicity, but even an earthquake of moderate magnitude can cause extensive damage in a densely populated city with vulnerable buildings," he cautioned.
Dr. Suresh said Odisha falls under Seismic Zones II and III of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seismic zoning map. The Mahanadi valley, extending from Jharsuguda and Sambalpur through Angul, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Paradip and Puri, falls under Zone III, categorised as a moderate-risk zone, while most other parts of the state are in Zone II, a low-risk category.
Highlighting Odisha's earthquake history, he recalled that a tremor of approximately magnitude 6, originating in the Bay of Bengal, was felt along the state's coast in May 2014. Sambalpur experienced a magnitude 5.2 earthquake in 1963, while earthquakes measuring 4.6 and 4.7 were recorded in the Bonaigarh-Debagarh region in 1995 and Sundargarh in 2001, respectively.
The NCS monitors seismic activity round the clock through a network of 180 observatories across the country, including three in Odisha at Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda and Rayagada. These observatories can detect and locate earthquakes of magnitude 3 and above, he said. The centre is also developing an early warning system for the highly earthquake-prone Himalayan region.
Explaining the findings of the Bhubaneswar seismic microzonation exercise, Dr. Suresh said the NCS had divided the city into smaller geographical zones to assess earthquake hazards at a more localised level.
The study covered approximately 420 square kilometres of the Bhubaneswar Development Plan Area in July 2025. Scientists measured natural ground vibrations at 1,650 locations, drilled boreholes up to 30 metres deep, conducted tests at depths of up to 100 metres and analysed more than 1,200 soil samples in laboratories.
The assessment examined six key seismic parameters, revealing significant differences in ground conditions between the western, central and eastern parts of the city.
According to the study, the shear-wave velocity in the upper 30 metres of soil ranged between 360 and 760 metres per second across most of Bhubaneswar, indicating relatively stiff ground favourable for building foundations. However, in the eastern part, the velocity dropped to 184-360 metres per second, suggesting softer soil that could amplify earthquake shaking.
The depth of engineering bedrock also varied considerably. While it was found at depths of just 2-20 metres in the western and central parts, it extended to around 86 metres in the eastern belt, where the underlying rock is covered by thick layers of alluvial soil.
The study further revealed that the eastern areas had ground vibration frequencies below 4 hertz, compared with frequencies exceeding 10 hertz in parts of the central city with firmer ground.
"This difference is significant because tall buildings generally vibrate at lower frequencies. When the natural frequency of a building matches that of the ground, resonance can occur, multiplying the intensity of shaking," Dr. Suresh explained.
The microzonation findings have also raised questions about whether existing seismic design parameters adequately reflect local ground conditions.
Dr. Suresh said the peak ground acceleration recorded in the underlying rock was around 0.05 g, but this increased to 0.08-0.17 g at the surface because of soil amplification, which could multiply earthquake shaking by up to three times.
In areas such as Jagamara, ground frequencies were found to vary significantly over short distances, generally between 1 and 6 hertz, with peak amplification ranging from 2 to 5.
Illustrating the implications, he said a 10-storey building could have a natural vibration frequency of around 1 hertz, a five-storey structure around 2 hertz and a two-storey building around 5 hertz.
While the BIS design parameter for Zone III considers a design shaking of 0.08 g, the microzonation assessment indicated values of 0.14-0.17 g in the eastern areas — nearly twice the prescribed figure.
For the rarest and strongest earthquake scenario, the design value of 0.16 g was found to be lower than the 0.20-0.27 g indicated by the microzonation map.
Similar conditions were identified in Chakeisiani, Pahala, Old Town and Uttara, he added.
Despite the findings, Dr. Suresh emphasised that the study should not trigger public alarm but should encourage better urban planning and engineering practices.
The hazard index developed through the exercise indicated low seismic hazard across most of Bhubaneswar, with moderate to high levels concentrated mainly in the eastern belt along the Kuakhai and Daya rivers.
"This is not a reason for fear but a reason for good engineering. You must know your ground before you build. Tall buildings, bridges and other structures in the eastern part of the city need greater attention than those in the central and western areas," he said.
The findings underline the importance of incorporating location-specific seismic assessments into building design, infrastructure development and urban planning as Bhubaneswar continues to expand.
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