Geological Survey of India
Isoseismal pattern of Delhi-Haryana Region Earthquake of 5th March 2012A Macroseismic Survey Report
A moderate magnitude earthquake with epicenter in Bahadurgarh, Haryana shook the Delhi-Haryana
region in the afternoon of 5th March 2012 at 13.11 hrs (IST). The earthquake effect was felt in large parts of
Rewari, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonepat, Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad areas causing at places slight damage to
property in the form of minor cracks and fissures in the houses. According to Indian Meteorological Department
(IMD) the tremor measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale struck at 07:41:03 (UTC). The epicenter of the Earthquake
was located at 28.7° N 76.7° E and originated at a depth of 10 km. However, United State Geological Survey
(USGS) pegged the magnitude of the Earthquake at 5.2 on the Richter scale.
A team of two geologists, S/Sh Abhinandan Srivastava and Pankaj Kumar, from Geological Survey of
India, NR, Lucknow, proceeded to the field on 11th March 2012 to carry out the macroseismic survey of the
seismic event in affected parts in order to bring out variation in the patterns of intensity in the area.
The investigated area falls in parts of degree sheet 53C, 53D, 53G, and 53H, and mostly exposes
Quaternary deposits (Older Alluvium and Newer Alluvium) and quartzite with interbanded schist and phyllite of
Ajabgarh Group (Delhi Supergroup). The area is traversed by several minor and major lineaments. A major
subsurface fault, i.e Mahendragarh-Dehradun fault, trending in NE-SW direction is passing from the affected
area. The basement depth contour values range between 0 m and 1000 m below msl and Bouger Gravity
anomaly ranges from -30 m Gal to -80 m Gal. The area has witnessed several low magnitude earthquakes near
Rohtak town in the past (GSI Seismotectonic Atlas of India and its Environs 2000).
The Intensity scale MSK-1964 was used to decipher the variation in the intensity pattern. The people
residing in the affected areas were interviewed using the standard questionnaire used during the macroseismic
survey. Based on the questionnaire and personal judgment intensities were assigned accordingly. A maximum
intensity of VI was assigned on MSK-64 scale to this seismic event.
Northern Region
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Geological Survey of India
Fig-1: Isoseismal map of Delhi-Haryana region earthquake
The intensity of the earthquake shows an increase as one move westwards from Bahadurgarh. The
maximum intensity was recorded from the area encompassing Jhajjar to Rohtak town while the localities lying
northeast and south east of Delhi recorded minimum intensity. In and around Jhajjar and Rohtak town damages
in the form of cracks, gapping in wall, and peeling-off plasters in cemented brick houses were recorded. As
brought out in the survey during the earthquake, the people got frightened and ran out of their houses in these
areas. A rumbling sound was also heard during the earthquake by most of the people in these areas. Restlessness
in animals was also recorded from few places. En echelon crack was observed in a cemented brick house in
Jhajjar town and at places, cracks noticed in ordinary brick buildings in Ladiyah village, Jhajjar. Cracks
measuring 2-5 mm wide were observed in few of the cemented brick buildings in Gandhi camp and Jassia
locality of Rohtak district. The intensity of VI is recorded on MSK scale from Jhajjar to Rohtak town (Fig-1). In
the Sidhawali, Kanina, and Narnaul locality, some people also felt pre shock for a few second on preceding
night of main event. The intensity diminishes from Rohak town toward Panipat. Fine cracks were observed in
few houses of Khevra locality of Baghpath district, U.P. In Delhi the intensity of IV on MSK scale was assigned
mainly in Munirka, Vasant Kunj, Dwarka, Mahipalpur, Sarojni Nagar areas where the effect was more
conspicuous in high rise building. Whereas in northeastern and southeastern part of Delhi intensity tended to
diminish. The maximum intensity was felt in area west of Bahadurgarh which can be attributed to its proximity
with a subsurface heterogeneity i.e. Mahendragarh-Dehradun subsurface fault.
A low magnitude earthquake again hit the area on 13th March 2012 with epicenter at Baghpat. According
to IMD, the Earthquake measuring 3.5 on Richter scale occurred on 12/03/2012 at 22:07:20 (UTC), Depth- 5
km, Location 28.9°N 77.3°E. Very feeble effect of this earthquake was felt by the people from the area.
Contributed by EQG, GSI, NR, Lucknow
Northern Region
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Geological Survey of India
a- Cracks observed in building at Ladiyah
village, Jhajjar town, Haryana
c- Peeling-off plaster in building, Jhajjar
town, Haryana
e- Cracks and peeling-off plaster in under
construction building near Gandhi camp,
b- En echelon cracks in building as observed in
Jhajjar town, Haryana
d- Fairly wide cracks in building in Jassia
village, Rohtak district, Haryana
f- Widening of gap in building observed at
Vikas nagar, Sonepat, Haryana
Rohtak, Haryana
Northern Region
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