---
title: "EARTHQUAKE RISK LOOMS OVER LAKHANPUR AND HIRAKUD SUBMERGED AREAS"
url: https://mediathepower.com/earthquake-risk-looms-over-lakhanpur-and-hirakud-submerged-areas/
date: 2026-09-10
modified: 2026-10-11
lang: en
author: "Rajiv Singh"
description: "JHARSUGUDA: Experts are calling for heightened vigilance in Jharsuguda district as new data reveals that approximately 11% of the region's land area—specifically the Lakhanpur block and the submerged areas of..."
categories:
  - "State"
tags:
  - "#HirakudDamSafety"
  - "#HirakudSeismicZone"
  - "#mediathepower"
  - "#OdishaDisasterManagement"
  - "#OdishaEarthquakeRisk"
  - "#SeismicZone3"
image: https://mediathepower.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/1-2-1024x384.jpg
word_count: 358
---

# EARTHQUAKE RISK LOOMS OVER LAKHANPUR AND HIRAKUD SUBMERGED AREAS

**JHARSUGUDA:** Experts are calling for heightened vigilance in Jharsuguda district as new data reveals that approximately 11% of the region's land area—specifically the Lakhanpur block and the submerged areas of the Hirakud reservoir—falls under Seismic Zone-3, indicating a moderate risk for earthquakes. The warning is particularly significant given the district's extensive coal mining operations, dense industrial establishments, and heavy infrastructure.

According to the State Disaster Management Plan, about 42.1% of the district's total area is considered seismically sensitive to varying degrees. While the remaining majority of the district lies within the lower-risk Seismic Zone-2, the convergence of dense populations and heavy industry in the Zone-3 belt sharply elevates the potential impact of any seismic event.

While Jharsuguda has no history of large-scale seismic devastation, the surrounding region is no stranger to tectonic activity. Records show that several mild to moderate earthquakes have struck within a 150-kilometre radius of the district over the past century.

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was recorded just 49 kilometres from Jharsuguda in 1902. More recently, tremors ranging from 4.2 to 4.9 on the Richter scale were felt in neighbouring Sundargarh and surrounding areas in 1995 and 2009. Tectonic experts warn that these past incidents mean the region should not be considered entirely immune to future activity.

Because a massive population resides alongside the heavily mechanized coal fields of Lakhanpur, safety compliance has become a matter of urgency. Experts emphasize that all new infrastructure and industrial plants must strictly adhere to earthquake-resistant construction standards.

Local authorities are urging immediate safety assessments and regular structural audits of older buildings, critical industrial facilities, and heavy machinery installations to identify vulnerabilities before a crisis occurs.

Disaster management officials are pressing for immediate preventative measures, including mandatory regular mock drills and disaster training across local schools, residential zones, and industrial sites. Authorities and corporate entities are also being advised to review and update emergency evacuation routes, medical first-aid readiness, and rapid rescue arrangements.

While officials clarify that the Zone-3 classification does not mean a major disaster is imminent, they stress that proactive preparation in the Lakhanpur and Hirakud areas is essential to mitigating risks and protecting lives in the future.