Quake warning system soon in city

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 12

An early earthquake warning and security system will be installed as a pilot project in Chandigarh.

The earthquake warning system detects the P-wave of the quake, which comes first and cannot be felt and does not cause damage. Seconds later, the destructive S-waves follow. These can be felt and carry most of the energy that causes damage.

The warning system, developed by secty electronics GmbH has been brought to India in a joint venture with Terra Techcom Pvt Ltd. It measures the P-wave and the intensity of the quake to follow. The warning system is installed after a study of the layout in the foundation of the building and automatically shuts down gas, electricity and water pipelines in case the earthquake is measured to be destructive. The maximum warning from the system is of about 30 seconds before the earthquake can actually be felt.

“The geo research centre in Germany collated 100-year data on earthquakes and developed an algorithm. Our company has developed a warning system software based on the algorithm,” said Bijender Goel, director, Terra Techcom. 

The system has already been installed in 25 other countries, including in the mountainous northern region of Pakistan, he said.

In a letter addressed to Terra Techcom Pvt Ltd, Haryana’s Revenue and Disaster Management Department has made it clear that they would not provide any financial assistance for the installation of the system in the New Secretariat building in Sector 17, Chandigarh.