The Indian Society of Earthquake Technology (ISET), Roorkee, has established its first chapter in Madhya Pradesh in Jabalpur. Announced during the society’s 224th National Executive Committee meeting, the Jabalpur chapter is the 15th local chapter in the country. The announcement was made by ISET National President Dr B K Maheshwari, National Secretary Dr P C Ashwin Kumar and other executive committee members. Dr R Grover has been appointed Chairperson while Dr Sanjay Verma will serve as Secretary. Dr Manish Dubey, Professor Vedant Srivastava and Dr Niranjan Damle have been named Managing Committee members.

 

Engineers Sagar Srivastava, Sanjay Sen, Pankaj Sen, Mohan Chaudhary and Vinay Chaurasia have been nominated to the Executive Committee. The establishment fulfils a long-standing demand for a dedicated earthquake research institution in Jabalpur, particularly following the earthquake of May 22, 1997. The chapter will facilitate national and international seminars, workshops and research initiatives on earthquakes. It will also encourage studies into the causes of the 1997 earthquake and the possibility of similar seismic events in the future. Dr Sanjay Verma, a member of ISET’s National Executive Committee, said seismic microzonation work in Jabalpur was undertaken between 2001 and 2004 but completed only up to Phase II.

 

The remaining two phases are yet to be completed, and efforts will be made to resume and finish the work. ISET’s existing 14 chapters across India are actively involved in earthquake research and related studies. The society also plans to establish student chapters at technical institutions in Jabalpur to encourage young researchers and engineering students to participate in earthquake science, disaster preparedness and seismic safety initiatives.