Earthquakes in Northeastern Region in 2024: Assam Tops List with 78

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: A peep into the seismological data in the aftermath of the March 28, 2025, devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, it has come to light that Assam witnessed the highest number of earthquakes in the calendar year 2024 among the northeastern states.

According to the earthquake catalogue for the north eastern region of India – 2024 published by North Eastern Regional Node for Disaster Risk Reduction, North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC), as many as 78 earthquakes occurred in Assam in the calendar year 2024.

According to the catalogue published recently, a total of 428 earthquakes were recorded in the year 2024 in the north eastern region (NER). Among the NER states, Assam had the highest number of earthquake occurrences, with a total of 78 triggers, followed by Meghalaya with 49 triggers, Manipur with 45 triggers, and Ananachal Pradesh with 35 triggers. The remaining states – Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Mizoram, experienced 10, 9, 3, and 2 triggers, respectively, in the same period. Additionally, the adjoining areas of NER had 199 earthquake triggers. When analysing the monthly triggers, it is observed that the month of March 2024 witnessed the highest number with a total of 61 earthquakes in the NER region, followed by August with 39 triggers and September with 38 triggers. The month of July recorded the least number of earthquakes, with a total of 20 triggers.

The catalogue made specific mention of Assam. Situated in the northeastern part of India, the state is a region characterized by significant seismic activity due to its location near the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates. The seismo-tectonic setting of Assam is influenced by compressional tectonic stresses, particularly in the north-south direction. Major faults play a crucial role in the seismo-tectonics of Assam. One of the prominent faults is the Kopili Fault, which is associated with the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT). The MHT is a major fault system that separates the Indian plate from the Eurasian plate.

Other significant faults in the region are: Lohit Thrust, Haflong fault, Naga thrust, Disang thrust, Kulsi fault, Dhubri fault, Ultapani thrust and Atherkhet fault. These faults contribute to the seismic activity in Assam, and their interactions with the tectonic forces in the area lead to the occurrence of earthquakes. In the year 2024, a total of 78 earthquakes were triggered in Assam, which is the highest in the North Eastern States.

The catalogue also mentioned that NER India has experienced two great earthquakes (magnitude greater than Mw 8.0) and about 20 large earthquakes (magnitudes between Mw 8.0 and Mw 7.0) since 1897. The 1897 Shillong earthquake is one of the largest recorded earthquakes in Indian history. It caused widespread damage, triggering landslides, damaging buildings, and leading to loss of life. In recent years, the north-eastern region has experienced several significant earthquakes. The 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake and the 2011 Sikkim earthquake, both with magnitudes exceeding Mw 6.9, resulted in casualties and extensive infrastructure damage. Apart from these earthquakes, several strong events have also caused widespread damage in the NER of India. These events serve as reminders of the seismic vulnerability of the region. The spatial distribution of the earthquake events (3154 events) triggered in NER and the adjoining areas since 1900.

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