Low intensity quakes release stored energy: Expert

Chandigarh, May 2: The low intensity earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale that shook Rohtak yesterday is the second low intensity quake in the Delhi-Rohtak belt in of ao month.

On March, year a earthquake of 3.9 intensity shook Sonipat which also lies in the Delhi-Rohtak high seisemic zone-IV, which also includes parts of Haryana.

''Such low intensity earthquakes do create a sense of fear but the positive aspect is that these quakes release the underground stresses that accumulate due to the movement of plates,'' Prof Naresh Kochhar of the Geology department of the Panjab University told UNI here today.

''If the stresses accumulate and are not released periodically, then these could result in a high magnitude earthquake,'' he added.

On the frequent occurrance of quakes in the Delhi-Rohtak belt, Prof Kochhar said due to northward movement of the Indian plate, stress is released in the region of the National Capital and adjoining areas. The seismicity in Delhi and adjoining areas have been attributed to the intersection of various lineaments.

Prof Kochhar said the epicentre of a number of low intensity quakes in the past have a pattern of clustering in two belts namely Rohtak and Delhi. ''Localised seismic activities shows a switching between these two places, with Rohtak being more active than Delhi region'', he added.

UNI