The first time I felt the earth shake beneath my feet in Mumbai was in 1993. It was the wee hours of the morning and I was in a dead sleep after a long day of Ganpati immersion celebration when my bed began to sway. Confused and groggy, I thought I was being visited by the paranormal, but my mother's scream quickly jolted me back to reality: "It's an earthquake! Everyone out now!" My legs felt like jelly as I tried to make my way outside, convinced the building would crumble before I made it to safety. Thankfully, the shaking stopped soon and the whole building had gathered in an open field, all still in a state of panic. Luckily, there was no damage in Mumbai, but the next day's newspaper brought devastating news.
The Latur district of Maharashtra was hit by a catastrophic earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, resulting in widespread destruction and over 10,000 feared dead. Its tremors were felt as far as 500 km away in Mumbai. This earthquake remains one of the deadliest in Indian history.
As a journalist with over 25 years of experience covering earthquakes, I have witnessed the aftermath of several, both in India and abroad. The images of the Bhuj earthquake in 2001, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004, and the Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011 still haunt me. I have seen the destruction firsthand and every time I hear of another earthquake, my thoughts immediately turn to my city, Mumbai. Is this bustling metropolis safe from the wrath of Mother Nature?
According to seismic data, Mumbai is indeed at risk of earthquakes. In 1618, during Portuguese rule, a powerful earthquake hit the city, resulting in the death of over 20,000 people, even though the population was only 200,000, and the city comprised only seven islands. Since then, Mumbai has experienced over 20 earthquakes, many with a magnitude greater than 4 on the Richter scale.
The city falls under seismic Zone 3, showing a moderate risk of earthquakes. An active fault line runs close to Mumbai, from Panvel to Bhiwandi. Being a coastal city, Mumbai is also at risk of tsunamis, with the west coast being more vulnerable because of its high population density, while the east coast, with its mangroves and salt pans, is considered safer. However, a report by IIT-Bombay reveals that the eastern suburbs are actually more prone to earthquakes.
The recent earthquake in Turkiye and Syria was a stark reminder of the destruction that can be caused by Mother Nature. Mumbai being a city of skyscrapers, one can only wonder if it would be able to withstand a strong quake. Due to limited land space and being surrounded by water, Mumbai has had to grow upwards. The construction of India's tallest skyscraper, the 328-metre-tall Palais Royale in Worli, only adds to these concerns. After the Nepal earthquake in 2015, the BMC reached out to various agencies for information on earthquake-resistant buildings, but there are no strict regulations in place. While some builders may advertise their projects as being earthquake-safe, the level of corruption in the government system makes it impossible to know for sure. Mumbai truly is at the mercy of the gods.
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