Earthquake is usually considered as more dangerous and destructive than other natural calamities, especially because the damage instigated by earthquakes are high impact and beyond repair. The massive earthquake which hit Nepal on Saturday may be a vivid proof of the above statement. Aftershocks of this earthquake were felt during a number of nations , including India. The price in Nepal has now crossed 3,000 and therefore the number of Indians who have lost their lives thanks to this earthquake, as of today, are 62.

As such, following are some factors you'll want to think about before buying a house.

Do you live in an earthquake prone area?

There can't be a more crucial time to assess the risks posed by earthquakes and to organize ourselves. You must research and know if you're living in a neighborhood that's susceptible to earthquakes. Geographical statistics of India proclaims that almost 54 per cent of the land in India is vulnerable to earthquakes which nearly 200 million city dwellers could also be exposed to earthquakes by 2050. As such, the western and central Himalayas, some regions of Kashmir, North-eastern states of India and Rann of Kutch fall into the category of the very best risk zone. Other regions that are considered high risk are Delhi, Jammu, the Indo-Gangetic region and a few parts of Maharashtra.

After this massively destructive earthquake in Nepal, you ought to take steps to make sure that you simply live in earthquake resistant structures, and this becomes imperative if you reside in one of the above mentioned high-risk zones.

Is your house earthquake resistant?

Majority of the structures in India aren't earthquake resistant and hence the danger is usually related to the strength of the house , sort of construction and its location. Needless to say that old and taller structures are at a better risk. An easy thanks to know if your home is earthquake resistant is to call an engineer and obtain checked if the foundations of your home are weak (unbraced) and if the walls are crippled. Earthquake resistant structures often have bolts within the foundation and an inspection by the engineer will assist you know if your home is safe and earthquake resistant.

If your home is not earthquake resistant, then you want to take steps to make sure that you simply consult a structural engineer to understand ways to strengthen the strength of the inspiration and masonry of your home.

What materials are you able to use to form your house earthquake resistant?

Structures that have walls made from stacked bricks that are held along side mortar are weak, especially because the roof is about across the highest and therefore the weight comes straight down to the foundation through the walls. When such a construction is subjected to earthquake, the structure easily crumbles sort of a house of cards.

It is good to understand that a couple of simple construction steps and materials can protect you and your family from the danger of earthquakes to an excellent extent. From the earthquake point of view, the foremost dangerous structures are the constructions with concrete block or unreinforced bricks.

Concrete and wood are considered nearly as good earthquake resistant construction material. However, if your house is concrete based, then you want to make sure that the structure is reinforced through additional concrete or steel slabs.

Techniques which will make your house or apartment earthquake resistant

Earthquake engineering has come an extended way and there are variety of construction techniques which will minimize the risks of earthquake to an excellent extent. If you're constructing a replacement house, make sure that the structure is made aboard isolation pads (made from lead, steel and rubber) as these absorb tremors and limit the damage. This is referred to as base isolation technique and it allows the inspiration to maneuver without moving the whole structure above it. Damping is another technique that reduces the magnitude of vibrations through the utilization of shock absorbers. There are several construction techniques, a number of which are proven while others are being tested; base isolation technique is which the structure floats on a lead-rubber bearing during earthquakes is the most popular one.

A structural engineer can assist you with professional ways to retrofit your home and to make sure that your home has seismic improvements.

We cannot control earthquakes; however, we will make sure that our homes are adept with all required retrofits and seismic improvements in order that the damage incurred thanks to earthquakes is minimal in the future.