Home > Earthquake Safety Guide
During an Earthquake
- DROP to your hands and knees immediately
- Take COVER under a sturdy desk, table, or bed - protect your head and neck
- HOLD ON to your shelter until the shaking stops completely
- If no shelter is available, cover your head with your arms and crouch near an interior wall
- If outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings, trees, and power lines
- If driving, pull over to the side of the road, stop, and stay inside the vehicle
- If in a multi-story building, do NOT use elevators
- If near the coast, move to higher ground immediately after shaking stops - tsunami risk
- Do NOT run outside during shaking - falling debris is the biggest danger
After an Earthquake
- Expect aftershocks - they can be strong and cause additional damage
- Check yourself and others for injuries - provide first aid
- Do NOT use elevators - use stairs only
- Check for gas leaks - if you smell gas, open windows and leave immediately
- Stay away from damaged buildings and structures
- Do NOT re-enter a building that has visible cracks or damage
- Check water and electrical lines for damage
- Use text messages rather than phone calls to keep lines open for emergencies
- Listen to All India Radio for official updates and instructions
Know Your Seismic Zone
- Seismic Zone V (Very High Risk): Entire Northeast India, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kutch region of Gujarat, parts of Bihar
- Seismic Zone IV (High Risk): Delhi, NCR, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, parts of Maharashtra, Rajasthan
- Seismic Zone III (Moderate Risk): Most of peninsular India, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka
- Seismic Zone II (Low Risk): Parts of southern peninsular India
- 59% of India's land area is vulnerable to earthquakes of moderate to severe intensity
- The Himalayan belt is extremely earthquake-prone due to the collision of Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates
- Major historical earthquakes: Bhuj 2001 (7.7), Kashmir 2005 (7.6), Sikkim 2011 (6.9), Nepal-Bihar 2015 (7.8)
Emergency Actions
Call 112 or 1070 for disaster helpline
Contact NDRF: +91-9711077372
Call 108 for medical emergency
India-Specific Notes
India lies at the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Himalayan belt is extremely earthquake-prone. 59% of India is vulnerable to earthquakes. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) classifies India into four seismic zones (II-V). NDMA guidelines recommend earthquake-resistant construction in Zones IV and V.
Other Guides
Cyclone Safety Guide | Flood Safety Guide | Heatwave Safety Guide | Landslide Safety Guide