Why has Maharashtra recorded 29 earthquakes in the past 16 days?

Maharashtra has experienced a notable cluster of small earthquakes over the past 16 days, with Nashik and Palghar witnessing multiple tremors. A total of 29 earthquakes were recorded between July 30 and August 14, with 24 in and around Nashik, four in Palghar, and one in Nagpur. The tremors ranged in magnitude from 2 to 4.3 and occurred at depths between 5 km and 8 km.

The most significant tremor was a magnitude 4.3 quake in Nashik on August 8 at a depth of 5 km. Professor Deepankar Choudhury, an earthquake specialist at IIT Bombay, stated that an earthquake swarm is a series of small earthquakes occurring in a localized area over a short period. This pattern is typical during and after the monsoon season and is attributed to hydro-seismicity in the Deccan Plateau region.

Choudhury explained that monsoon-induced water ingress in cracks of basaltic rocks creates pore pressure, which releases energy as tremors. Nashik and Palghar are under Seismic Zone III, indicating moderate earthquake risk. While the current tremors do not necessarily signal an imminent major earthquake, experts advise monitoring the situation and ensuring buildings and infrastructure comply with earthquake-resistant construction standards.