The Centre has intensified earthquake monitoring and disaster preparedness in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra-Chamba-Dharamshala region, classified under Seismic Zone V, India’s highest earthquake hazard category.

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• The Kangra-Chamba-Dharamshala region of Himachal Pradesh falls under Seismic Zone V, the country’s highest earthquake hazard zone, making it highly vulnerable to major seismic events.
• Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha that the National Centre for Seismology continuously monitors seismic activity through its 24×7 Earthquake Monitoring Centre.
• During June 2026, the National Centre for Seismology recorded 16 earthquakes in the Kangra-Chamba region, including one event with a magnitude between 5.0 and 5.9.
• Scientific studies by institutions, including the National Geophysical Research Institute, indicate that the Kangra-Chamba-Dharamshala belt is capable of generating earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7.0 due to active tectonic processes.
• The National Seismological Network has been expanded to 172 seismic stations nationwide, including 7 monitoring stations located across Himachal Pradesh for continuous real-time surveillance.
• The National Disaster Management Authority is working with state governments to strengthen preparedness through mock drills, disaster management planning, training programmes, and emergency response systems.
• The Centre has advised the implementation of earthquake-resistant construction standards under the National Building Code, Bureau of Indian Standards seismic design codes, and Model Building Bye-Laws.
• The government is also supporting seismic microzonation studies, public awareness campaigns, school outreach programmes, infrastructure strengthening, and financial assistance to improve earthquake resilience across vulnerable regions.