little research on Assam Tibet eartquake -1950

1. Disasters and mitigation

2. Assam-Tibet Earthquake (1950) – 8.6

3. When did it happen and how
When?
The 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake,
also known as the Assam earthquake,
occurred on 15 August and had a
moment magnitude of 8.6.
How?
Occurring on a Tuesday evening at 7:39
pm Indian Standard Time, the
earthquake was destructive in both
Assam (India) and Tibet (China), and
approximately 4,800 people were
killed.

4. ● It was August 15, 1950.
● People all over India were ready to celebrate their Independence Day, three years after
Britain had released the subcontinent from its Empire.
● At 7:40 pm that evening a very strong earthquake struck the area, leaving hundreds of
people dead and thousands of homes ruined.
● In Assam, 1,526 fatalities were recorded and another 3,300 were reported in Tibet for
a total of approximately 4,800 deaths.
● 70 villages were destroyed with 156 casualties due to landslides.

5. What caused Assam-Tibet Earthquake?

6. ● The 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake was caused when the two interlocking tectonic plates - Indian and Eurasian plates -
collided (see image)
● Typically, large earthquakes occur beneath the ocean due to a process called subduction - where the heavier plate sinks
beneath the lighter plate into the Earth's mantle.
● The Assam earthquake however was not caused by the subduction of oceanic plates. Rather, it was caused by two
continental plates converging. It was the largest earthquake of the second kind.
The result of the earthquake:
● Landslides blocked the tributaries of the Brahmaputra.
● In the Dibang Valley, a landslide lake burst without causing damage, but another at Subansiri River opened after an
interval of 8 days and the wave, 7 m (23 ft) high, submerged several villages and killed 532 people

7. Effects of the earthquake
● The shock was more damaging in Assam, in terms of property loss, than the earthquake of 1897. In
addition to the extreme shaking, there were floods when the rivers rose high after the earthquake
bringing down sand, mud, trees, and all kinds of debris. Pilots flying over the damaged area reported
great changes in topography. This was largely due to enormous landslides, some of which were
photographed.
● extreme damage [extreme = $25 million or more at the time of the earthquake].

8. Although the quake's epicenter was located about 20 miles beneath the town of Rami in Tibet, most of the
damage occurred on the Indian side of the borderThe quake was so strong that it caused huge landslides
which in turn blocked many rivers in the mountainous region. India's Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
visited the affected areas and described what happened once the waters broke through the earthen dams
created by the slides: "They came down with rush and a roar, a high wall of water sweeping down and
flooding large areas and washing away villages and fields and gardens. These rivers have changed their
color and carried some sulphurous and other material which spread a horrible smell for some distance
around them. The fish in them died. The remains of villages, animals, including cattle and elephants and
large quantities of timber floated down these raging waters. Paddy fields were destroyed, stocks of grains
were washed away and some tea gardens also suffered great damage."

9. Preparations and Safety
Safety
● Take shelter
● Avoiding buildings
● Stay away from fragile items
● Use drop , cover , hold technique
Preparations
● House structure
● Buildings structures
● Equipment
● Underground safe place

10. Since hyderabad is also prone to mild earthquakes and that Many people were affected by the Assam earthquake
.so , just in case something else happened like that we all should be prepared so these are a few tips to keep us
safe and prepared.
● Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries at home.
● Learn first aid.
● Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity.
● Make up a plan of where to meet your family after an earthquake.
● Don't leave heavy objects on shelves (they'll fall during a quake).
● Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and appliances to the walls or floor.
● Stay calm! If you're indoors, stay inside. If you're outside, stay outside.
● If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture
(a desk or table). Stay away from windows and outside doors.
● If you're outdoors, stay in the open and away from power lines or anything that might fall. Don't use matches, candles, or
any flame.
● If you're in a car, stay inside until the earthquake stops.
● Don't use elevators (they may shut down).
● Stay away from beaches. Tsunamis and seiches sometimes hit after the ground has stopped shaking.
● Stay away from damaged areas.

11. THANK YOU!