Kanpur (UP), February 24 A 17-year study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) has warned that parts of Kanpur and Prayagraj could face severe damage if an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or higher strikes the region.
The research, led by Dr Nihar Ranjan Patra, a professor in IIT-K’s civil engineering department, highlights the high potential for soil liquefaction along the Ganga river belt – a factor that can significantly amplify ground shaking and destabilize buildings.
The IIT-K research team analyzed soil samples collected over nearly two decades from Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Samples were taken from 43 locations, with boreholes drilled up to 30 to 40 meters and 80 meters deep at two locations in Kanpur and Prayagraj in select areas – far deeper than the usual 10-30 meters used elsewhere.
In several parts of Kanpur and Prayagraj, the top 8-10 meters of soil is loose, sandy, and water-saturated – conditions highly prone to liquefaction during strong tremors.
The findings are concerning, as in some areas, the effects could extend as deep as 30-40 meters.
Liquefaction occurs when intense shaking causes waterlogged soil to temporarily lose strength and behave like a liquid, Patra told