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Journalism of Courage
AHMEDABAD, FEB 4: Gujaratacirc;euro;trade;s frequently changing topography ever since it was united with the Indian mainland due to tectonic activities has resulted in regular occurrence of earthquakes during the past two centuries, a trend that could continue in future also, experts say.
According to Prof. Nalinaksh Pandya, Director of Pariyatra Foundation, who has conducted extensive excavation and research in this regard, both Saurashtra and Kutch were islands millions of years ago and had emerged out of the sea to join the Indian mainland due to tectonic activities, like earthquakes.
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It was due to this reason that marine fossils are still found in the Rann of Kutch and Saurashtra and volcanic and seismic activities go on in this region, and thousands of tremors have been felt during the last few decades.
The two separate parts of the state, called Saurashtra and Kutch, had joined Gujarat and each other at what are known as acirc;euro;tilde;acirc;euro;tilde;hingesacirc;euro;trade;acirc;euro;trade;.
For instance, Saurashtraacirc;euro;trade;s hinge with Gujarat is in Bhavnagar district while with Kutch it is near Morbi in Rajkot district. Similarly, Kutchacirc;euro;trade;s hinge with Gujarat is in Surendranagar district, experts say.
With tectonic plate movements, these hinges are activated and frictional seismic energy thus accumulating over the years is released in acirc;euro;tilde;acirc;euro;tilde;hotspotsacirc;euro;trade;acirc;euro;trade; like Kutch undulating the state from time to time.
Each major quake has led to collapse of some area and raising of another, a reason behind the formation of the Rann of Kutch.
With Bhavnagar and parts of Saurashtra already experiencing tremors in the latter half of last year as warning signals, Gujarat was heading for the republic day disaster.
acirc;euro;tilde;acirc;euro;tilde;More fault zones may be in the making in Gujarat,acirc;euro;trade;acirc;euro;trade; according to Prof. Pandya.In August 2000, Saurashtra, particularly Bhavnagar, had begun to experience tremors for the first time in forty years, indicating activation of hinges and faults, that actually led to release of energy in Kutch on the January 26.
