Patna: Now, radon data to predict earthquakes

PATNA: Patna University (PU) geology department is likely to be developed into an advanced centre of seismological studies soon.
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) on Friday installed a radon geo-station at the department to monitor the emission of radon in the soils and groundwater of the region with a view to predicting earthquakes.
Two scientists from BARC – Ravi Chilkulwar and Dinesh H Kumbhar – visited the department to oversee installation of the geo-station, which is the 33rd of its type in the country.
BARC scientists in collaboration with other geo scientists of the country are studying the fluctuation of radon emission in the Himalayan region which is indicative of earthquakes. Anomalous temporal gas concentration variations, with durations of a few hours to several months, have been recorded before many large and some smaller earthquakes at stations, located mostly along the active faults at epicentral distances, claimed scientists.
The PU geology department has already signed an MoU with Bihar State Disaster Management Authority for the establishment of a full-fledged seismic telemetry network centre on its campus for monitoring seismological activities in the region and preparing database for advanced seismological research. CM Nitish Kumar is likely to lay the foundation stone of this centre soon, said PU vice-chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh.
Telemetric stations were being constructed at 10 different places, including Motihari, Siwan, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Samastipur, Saharsa, Munger and Purnia, besides a central station at Patna Science College. All these telemetric stations will have sensitive seismographs to record earthquake waves. These stations will transmit seismological data directly to the satellites round the clock, which will be received by the central station at Patna. PU geology department faculty members will monitor the data regularly, said department head Ramesh Shukla.