Major parts of India now fall under 'ultra-high' earthquake risk zones

India Dec 02, 2025

India's new earthquake risk map is out, and it's a wake-up call—over 60% of the country is now marked as moderate to high risk.
For the first time ever, the whole Himalayan arc (think Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh) has been bumped up to Zone VI, which means ultra-high earthquake danger.

What's changing for safety?

The Bureau of Indian Standards isn't just updating maps—they're rolling out smarter safety rules too.
The new guidelines use better risk models and focus on making buildings safer by securing things like parapets and water tanks.
Plus, they're looking at how crowded an area is to help cities prepare better if a big quake hits.