Opinion: Myanmar Earthquake A Reality Check For India — Two Decades Of Efforts, Yet Risks Persist

Over a week after Myanmar’s catastrophic earthquake, casualty numbers are still climbing. Meanwhile, across India, mild tremors shake different regions every noe and then — brief jolts reminding us of the seismic threat beneath our feet. These are not random events. They are warnings.

Twenty years back, India woke up to earthquake risks and launched the Urban Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction Project and Disaster Risk Management programme. These brought together builders, resident associations, market traders, schools, hospitals, and JJ colonies for safety training. Specific training was provided to architects, engineers, and masons on implementing building codes that reduce earthquake risks.

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Back then, India lacked dedicated disaster management institutions. No state or district disaster management authorities existed, nor was there specific legislation. The 2005 Disaster Management Act altered this scenario, establishing formal mechanisms at national, state, and district levels. While this Act provided a broad legal framework, it lacked detailed directives on seismic safety.

The policy has evolved greatly since. The National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project, led by the National Disaster Management Authority, focuses on high-risk seismic zones — particularly zones IV and V. These cover Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of northeast India, and Delhi-NCR. The project prioritises techno-legal regime upgrades, institutional capacity strengthening, and public awareness campaigns. Supporting this is the updated Seismic Zoning Map of India, classifying regions by earthquake risk and providing safer construction guidelines.

In 2014, the home ministry introduced the National Retrofit Programme to reinforce existing infrastructure. The Bureau of Indian Standards and Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council have issued guidelines for retrofitting older buildings and constructing new earthquake-resistant structures. These standards emphasise design, materials, and construction practices meant to withstand seismic forces, especially for public buildings like schools and hospitals.

So why do risks persist? Walk through Delhi-NCR — a Zone IV region — and you will spot countless buildings missing basic earthquake safeguards like seismic bands. Structural audits of existing buildings that have been standing for more than 15 years rarely happen. Building codes remain largely unenforced. High-rises shoot up without proper checks, housing thousands of families. Local governments lack trained inspectors to certify seismic safety.

Public readiness falls equally short. A concerning complacency and apathy is developing in the community as well as officials. Most schools do not conduct regular drills. Offices lack emergency evacuation plans. Many urban Indians still see earthquake preparedness as an abstract concern.

Meanwhile, other earthquake-prone countries have made remarkable progress. Japan enforces earthquake-resilient designs through its Building Standards Law (1950), and made sweeping reforms post-Fukushima under the Nuclear Regulation Authority Act (2012), introducing additional protections for critical infrastructure. The US state of California passed the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act (1972), banning construction near fault lines, and established a dedicated California Earthquake Authority for insurance and public education. Chile made seismic-resistant construction mandatory through its General Law of Urbanism and Construction (1975), embedding safety into the DNA of its urban planning. These nations show that strong legal frameworks, institutional will, and public participation can significantly reduce earthquake risks.

India has the knowledge and institutional framework to reduce risks dramatically. What is lacking is strong execution, community involvement, and investment in upgrading existing buildings — especially in rapidly grown urban areas.

The messaging needs clarity and consistency. Earthquake risk is not some vague possibility — it is statistical probability. Today’s mild tremor could foreshadow tomorrow’s catastrophe. Clear responsibilities and accountabilities, community training, earthquake-conscious urban planning, and strict penalties for building violations should be non-negotiable priorities.

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The Choice We Face

Myanmar’s tragedy demands more than momentary sympathy. It calls for honest reflection and urgent action. Preparedness requires ongoing commitment across society — from government officials drafting policies to builders pouring foundations to families creating emergency plans.

The next big quake will not announce itself. It will not wait for better enforcement of laws or stronger buildings. It will strike without warning, testing every weakness in our systems. With every tremor, we wonder — is this the big one? Are we ready? Usually, thankfully, it is not. But someday it will be.

Look around. What buildings surround you? Would they stand in a major quake? Does your family have a meeting point if separated during a disaster? Do you know which interior walls offer structural support? Where would you shelter if tremors began right now?

India sits on shaky ground — literally. The Indo-Australian plate pushes relentlessly against the Eurasian plate, creating immense pressure along fault lines. This geological reality will not change. Our response to it must.

Several myths block progress. Many believe earthquakes kill people — but buildings kill people. Earthquakes themselves rarely cause direct fatalities; collapsing structures do. Others think preparedness costs too much — yet retrofitting proves far cheaper than rebuilding after disaster.

Schools deserve special attention. Children spend hours daily in buildings often constructed before modern seismic codes kicked in. Every school in high-risk zones should undergo mandatory structural assessment and necessary reinforcement.

We have made progress since those first vulnerability reduction projects two decades ago. The blueprint exists. Technical knowledge abounds. What is missing is implementation — turning paper plans into reinforced columns, seismic bands, and flexible foundations.

Myanmar reminds us what is at stake. As aftershocks continue there, we face a choice here: act decisively before disaster strikes, or explain afterwards why we did not. The ground beneath us will not wait for our decision.

The writer is a humanitarian and development professional.

[Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.]

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