India’s first earthquake warning system to be installed in Uttarakhand

Dehradun: Uttarakhand became first Indian state to install a system to detect earthquakes and disseminate warnings. The first system has been installed in the capital city of Dehradun which will issue warnings 1-40 seconds before earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more occurs. The system is designed and manufactured by Italian firm, Space Dynamics which already has installed it in Japan, Italy and US. The entire state of Uttarakhand falls under the seismic zone and scientists have warned of an impending tremor of great magnitude could strike the region. The scientists had issued the warning in the wake of the tragedy that struck Nepal earlier this year.

The system is incorporated with sensors which are capable to detect P (Primary) and S (Secondary) waves generated during an earthquake. Officials said the next system will be installed in Pithoragarh.