GEOLOGICAL Survey of India (GSI), Central Region will conduct the ‘Seismic Refraction Geo Physical Study’ of Seoni district in the first quarter of 2023 to find out the reason behind frequent earthquakes. “Seismically, the Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh is situated in a region where no earthquake of any significance has been traced in the past. However, the recent tremors frequently observed in and around Seoni district form a matter of study,” Subhrasuchi Sarkar, Director and OIC, GSI, Bhopal, told ‘The Hitavada’. “With the help of Geo Physical Study of Seoni district, we will get to know about the status of sub-surface area of the region. This study will also help to know future behaviour of rocks,” said the Director.The magnetic and gravitational fields emanating from the Earth’s interior hold essential information concerning seismic activities and the internal structure. Hence, detection and analysis of the electric and magnetic fields is very crucial. According to a report released by National Centre for Seismology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, “The swarm type of activity (occurrence of so many earthquakes having small Magnitude) also occasionally observed in the Seoni region may be attributed to local crustal adjustment.” The tremors that took place in Seoni in recent time were also felt in Nagpur district, which caused panic among citizens.

“It is actually an ‘Earthquake Swarm’, which is a sequence of mostly small earthquakes with no identifiable mainshock. Swarms are usually short-lived, but they can continue for days, weeks or sometimes, even months,” said M S Pathan, Superintending Geophysicist, GSI, Jabalpur.

“During summer, the excess extraction of ground water creates air gaps in natural small holes of basalt rocks. After monsoon, it again fills and normally, it creates huge sounds under the crust, which can cause light tremors. Seoni district is situated over such basalt rocks,” said Pathan. “We observed that the light tremors mainly occurred between October and December months when the water level is normal. However, from January onwards, such tremors vanished. Therefore, the tremors felt in Seoni district in last few years are due to such basalt rocks,” explained the Geophysicist.