1975 Kinnaur earthquake

1975 Kinnaur earthquake
1975 Kinnaur earthquake is located in India
1975 Kinnaur earthquake
UTC time1975-01-19 08:02:02
ISC event733389
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date19 January 1975 (1975-01-19)
Local time13:32:02
Magnitude6.8 Ms
Depth33 km
Epicenter32°28′N 78°26′E / 32.46°N 78.43°E / 32.46; 78.43[1]
TypeNormal
Areas affectedIndia, Himachal Pradesh
Max. intensityMMI IX (Violent)
Casualties47
Key Monastery and the Spiti Valley, seriously affected by the Kinnaur earthquake

The 1975 Kinnaur earthquake occurred in the early afternoon (local time) (08:02 UTC) of 19 January. It had a magnitude of 6.8 on the surface wave magnitude scale and a maximum perceived intensity of IX (Violent) on the Mercalli intensity scale, causing extensive damage in Himachal Pradesh, in northern India.[2][3] Its epicentre was in Kinnaur district in the southeastern part of Himachal Pradesh and caused 47 casualties.[2] Landslides, rock falls and avalanches caused major damage to the Hindustan-Tibet Road.[2] The earthquake affected many monasteries and buildings in the state and led to an extensive restoration work in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Himachal Pradesh. The Spiti and Parachu valleys in particular suffered the greatest damage being on the north–south Kaurik-Chango fault,[2] causing damage to landmarks such as Key Monastery and Tabo Monastery.

  1. ^ NGDC. "Comments for the Significant Earthquake". Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d The Kinnaur earthquake of January 19, 1975: A field report. Seismological Society of America, June 1976; v. 66; no. 3; pp. 887–901.
  3. ^ Khattri, K.; Rai K.; Jain A.K.; Sinvhal H.; Gaur V.K. & Mithal R.S. (1978). "The Kinnaur earthquake, Himachal Pradesh, India, of 19 January, 1975". Tectonophysics. 49 (1–2): 1–21. Bibcode:1978Tectp..49....1K. doi:10.1016/0040-1951(78)90095-1.