Why is Maharashtra experiencing an earthquake swarm? | Explained
Maharashtra has recently experienced a series of shallow earthquake swarms, with 29 tremors recorded across Nashik, Palghar, and Nagpur over a two-week period. Seismologists define this pattern as an earthquake swarm, a phenomenon that has historically occurred in the region due to movements along crustal faults.
Why it matters
Understanding these seismic patterns is crucial for disaster preparedness and public safety in regions prone to frequent, shallow tremors.
There has been a spate of small earthquakes in Maharashtra over the last fortnight, according to local reports. Of the 29 tremors during this period, 24 were in and around Nashik, four were in Palghar and one was in Nagpur. They weren’t particularly strong — the strongest was in Nagpur on August 8, of magnitude 4.3 — although they were also shallow, around 5-8 km deep. Seismologists call this pattern of quakes an earthquake swarm, and Maharashtra has experienced them often before.
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