By E.S Langshiang
As proud residents of Meghalaya, a land blessed with breathtaking beauty and a vibrant spirit, we must also acknowledge a fundamental truth about our home: we live in Seismic Zone-V. This designation isn’t just a label; it signifies that we are in a region facing one of the highest risks of experiencing severe earthquakes in India. This isn’t a distant threat we can ignore; it’s an intrinsic part of our environment demanding our unwavering awareness and proactive, collective preparation.
To truly grasp the potential that lies beneath our feet, we need only look to the stark lessons of our past. The devastating Great Assam Earthquake of June 12, 1897, with its epicenter alarmingly close to our state, unleashed unimaginable destruction upon Shillong and the entire region. Buildings, both grand and humble, crumbled into dust. Vital infrastructure was shattered, crippling life as it was known. The lives of our ancestors were forever marked by that catastrophe. That single, horrific event serves as an indelible reminder of Meghalaya’s profound seismic vulnerability, a memory that must fuel our actions today.
While smaller tremors may occasionally remind us of the earth’s ongoing activity, we, the people of Meghalaya, must never succumb to complacency. Our geological location, near significant fault lines, means that the possibility of another major earthquake, one that could equal or even surpass the devastation of 1897, is a constant, lurking reality.
Therefore, the question is not if another significant earthquake will strike, but when. And in the face of this reality, how do we, the resilient people of Meghalaya, prepare ourselves? Preparedness is not a task solely for the government or a handful of experts; it is a shared responsibility, a collective commitment woven into the fabric of our daily lives, ensuring the safety of ourselves, our families, and our cherished communities.
This is what each and every one of us in Meghalaya must know and actively do to cultivate a true culture of preparedness:
Deeply Understanding Our Enduring Risk:
- Zone-NT is Our Reality: This isn’t a casual designation. It means we are at very high risk of experiencing severe earthquakes capable of causing widespread damage and loss of life. We must internalize this and never underestimate the potential impact on our homes, schools, hospitals, and livelihoods.
- The Echoes of 1897: The devastation of the Great Assam Earthquake in Shillong is not just a story in history books. It is a testament to the raw power of earthquakes in our specific region. We must educate ourselves and our families about the scale of that disaster, the types of buildings that collapsed, and the long-lasting impact it had. This understanding will fuel our commitment to preparedness.
- Our Buildings’ Vulnerability A Critical Concern: Many existing structures across Meghalaya, particularly older constructions and those erected without strict adherence to modern, earthquake-resistant building codes, are dangerously vulnerable. The increasing trend of unplanned construction on unstable slopes, a common sight in our rapidly developing towns and cities, further amplifies this risk, making our built environment a potential hazard during strong shaking.
Empowering Ourselves and Our Families Through Preparation:
- Make Your Home a Safer Haven: Take a critical look around your home. Identify heavy furniture, appliances, and hanging objects that could become deadly projectiles during an earthquake. Secure them firmly. Store fragile and breakable items in low or securely latched cabinets.
- Assemble Your Lifeline: The Emergency Kit: Prepare a readily accessible emergency kit — your lifeline in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. This must include: ample water, non- perishable food for several days, a comprehensive first-aid kit, a reliable flashlight, a battery- powered radio., extra batteries, a loud whistle to signal for help, dust masks to protect your lungs, sturdy shoes to navigate debris, and any essential medications. Don’t fouet to include copies of important documents sealed in a waterproof bag.
- Chart Your Course: The Family Emergency Plan: Sit down with your family and discuss and practice an earthquake safety plan. Identify the safest spots in each room — under sturdy tables or desks, against interior walls away from windows. Designate a clear out-of-area meeting place in case you are separated during the chaos. Ensure everyone knows the plan.
- Master the Immediate Response: Know What to Do When the Ground Shakes: This knowledge can be the difference between life and death:
- DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON: If you are indoors, the moment you feel shaking, drop to your knees, cover your head and neck with your arms to protect yourself from falling debris, and hold onto something sturdy like a table leg until the shaking completely stops.
- Distance Yourself from Danger: Immediately move away from windows, glass doors, outside walls, and anything that could topple over or shatter.
- Seek Open Ground Outdoors: If you are outside, quickly move to a clear, open area away from buildings, trees, power lines, and other potential hazards. Once there, drop to the ground and stay down until the shaking ceases.
- Safety First in Vehicles: If you are in a vehicle, pull over to the safest possible location, away from bridges, overpasses, and power lines. Remain inside your vehicle until the shaking stops.
- Equip Yourself with Essential Skills: First Aid and CPR: Learning basic first aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can empower you to provide critical assistance to yourself, your family, or your neighbors in the crucial minutes and hours following an earthquake.
Building a Resilient Meghalaya: Community Action:
Be an Active Participant: Get Involved: Don’t wait for others. Seek out and actively participate in community-level disaster preparedness programs and drills organized in your locality. Connect with your local Resident Welfare Associations, village councils, or community leaders to initiate and support preparedness initiatives.
The Strength of Neighbors: Know and Support Each Other: In the chaotic aftermath of an earthquake, your neighbors may be the first responders. Cultivate strong bonds within your community, identify individuals who might need extra assistance the elderly, those with disabilities, families with young children), and plan how you can support each other.
Amplify Our Collective Voice: Support Local Initiatives: Actively encourage and support local organizations, NG0s, and government agencies in their efforts to strengthen earthquake preparedness and response capabilities across Meghalaya. Advocate for better resources and more effective programs.
Laying the Foundation for Safety: Responsible Construction: Uphold the Law, Protect Lives: Adhere to Building Codes: If you are building or renovating any structure, from your home to a commercial establishment, strictly adhere to the National Building Code (NBC) and the specific local building bylaws that mandate earthquake-resistant design and construction techniques. This is not merely a bureaucratic requirement; it is a fundamental measure for safeguarding lives and preventing widespread collapse.
* Seek Expertise: Engage Qualified Professionals: Entrust the design and construction of your buildings to qualified engineers and architects who possess specialized expertise in earthquake-resistant design and construction principles relevant to Meghalaya’s seismic zone and unique geological conditions.
* Ensure Quality Assurance: Regular Inspections: Demand and ensure that all construction projects undergo rigorous and regular inspections at every critical stage to guarantee strict compliance with safety standards and building codes.
Living in Seismic Zone-V is an unchangeable reality for all of us in Meghalaya. However, our vulnerability to the devastating impacts of earthquakes is not immutable. We possess the power to significantly reduce our risk and enhance our resilience through proactive knowledge acquisition, diligent preparation at the individual and community levels, and an unwavering commitment to responsible and earthquake-resistant building practices.
The haunting memory of the 1897 earthquake must serve as a perpetual motivator, urging each and every resident of Me Lihalaya to embrace a culture of preparedness. By working together, by diligently educating ourselves and our families, and by collectively demanding safer building practices, we can, and we must, build a more resilient future for our beloved Meghalaya, ensuring that when the earth inevitably trembles again, we are far better equipped to weather the storm and protect the lives and livelihoods of our people. Let preparedness become not just a task, but a way of life in our seismically active homeland.
(The writer is the District Disaster Management Officer of South West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya)
