The Ministry of Earth Sciences informed the Lok Sabha that the Kangra–Chamba–Dharamshala belt in Himachal Pradesh remains a high earthquake-risk region. The reply is relevant for UPSC because it connects seismic geography with disaster preparedness, monitoring systems, and building safety standards.
What happened
The Government said the National Center for Seismology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences continuously monitors earthquakes across India through the National Seismological Network.
For June 2026, the National Center for Seismology reported 16 earthquakes in the Kangra–Chamba region through its 24×7 Earthquake Monitoring Centre. The Government said this was lower than the number mentioned in the Lok Sabha question.
Background and earlier position
The Kangra–Chamba–Dharamshala region lies in Seismic Zone V, which is the highest earthquake hazard zone in India. Scientific studies cited by the Government, including studies by the National Geophysical Research Institute and other institutions, indicate the region can generate large earthquakes above magnitude 7.0 because of active tectonic processes.
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