Himachal Pradesh which falls in the high-risk, high-intensity seismic zones IV and V. Successive state governments strengthened disaster response but left most of the public andprivate buildingsnon-resistant to tremors. Of the 25,75,947 (25.7 lakh) structures that state counted in 2011, it found 14,64,458 (14.6 lakh) or 56.8% in the unsafe category A, of mud walls and unburnt-clay bricks. Another 10,07,568 (10 lakh) or 39.11% of the structures were in category B, ofburnt bricks.None of the categories are resistant to earthquake.
A high-intensity earthquake is more catastrophic in the Mountains, for it triggers landslides, rockslides, and avalanches. Seven Himachal Pradesh districts – Chamba, Kullu, Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, Mandi, and Bilaspur – are in the very high damage risk seismic zone V, while five districts – Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, and Sirmaur – fall in the high damage risk seismic zone IV. More than 90% of Hamirpur, Kangra, and Mandi is prone to “destructive” Earthquakes measured by the Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik (MSK) scale of intensity.