PM dedicates to the nation, India’s first earthquake memorial, Smriti Van at Bhuj in Gujarat.

• PM Modi dedicated India’s first earthquake memorial, named Smruti Van at Bhuj in Gujarat.
• Smruti Van is a unique memorial carrying the names of more than 12 thousand people who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake that struck here in January 2001.
• This novel memorial is spread across 470 acres of land and is built atop Bhujiyo hill.
• The earthquake simulator will provide real like experience of earthquake tremors to visitors.

About

• National Centre for Seismology under Ministry of Earth Sciences is the nodal agency of Government of India (GoI), for monitoring earthquakes in and around the country.
• A total of ~59% of the land mass of India (covering all states of India) is prone to earthquakes of different intensities. As per the seismic zoning map of the country, the total area is classified into four seismic zones. Zone V is seismically the most active region, while zone II is the least. Approximately, ~ 11% area of the country falls in zone V, ~18% in zone IV, ~ 30% in zone III and remaining in zone II.
• Seismic Zonation map of the country (state wise) given by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has categorised into several seismic zones (Zone II to Zone V).