IIT Study Warns: Kanpur, Prayagraj Face Severe Damage from Major Quake

• A 17-year IIT-Kanpur study reveals parts of Kanpur and Prayagraj are at high risk of severe damage from an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or higher.
• The research, led by Dr. Nihar Ranjan Patra, highlights the high liquefaction potential of alluvial soil along the Ganga river belt, amplifying ground shaking and destabilizing buildings.
• Soil samples collected over two decades from 43 locations, with boreholes up to 80 meters deep, showed loose, sandy, water-saturated soil susceptible to liquefaction.
• Liquefaction causes waterlogged soil to behave like a liquid during tremors, leading to building tilting, sinking, and infrastructure damage, with effects potentially extending 30-40 meters deep.
• The study recommends mandatory soil testing, strict adherence to seismic design codes, retrofitting vulnerable buildings, and using earthquake hazard maps for urban planning.