INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SEISMIC HAZARD WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO BHUJ EARTHQUAKE OF JANUARY 26, 2001 3-5 OCTOBER 2001 NEW DELHI Organized by GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Department of Science and Technology India Meteorological Department Hosted by Indian Meteorological Society INTRODUCTION Most earthquakes in the world occur at plate boundaries and relatively few are found in the interiors of continents. India is thus unusual for the large number of damaging earthquakes that occur within the Indian plate. Of the 30 earthquakes that have cumulatively caused 100 thousand fatalities in the Indian sub-continent in the past two centuries, more than half have occurred in the past 40 years, and more than half of these recent events have occurred in a midplate setting. The Bhuj, Gujarat, earthquake of January 26, 2001 is the most recent and most disastrous of these mid-plate events, killing more than 18,000 people comparable to the fatality in India’s previously most lethal earthquake, the 1905 Kangra event in the Himalaya. The Bhuj earthquake is the most devastating event ever to occur in India in terms of economic losses. Given India’s greatly increased urban population, it is necessary that we learn the ways and means to mitigate the effects of such earthquakes and minimize the economic losses in future. A three-day international conference of scientists and engineers will be held in New Delhi, India to discuss these issues in general as well as the scientific findings and implications of the Bhuj earthquake. This mid-continental earthquake has a number of features that resemble the 19th century similar earthquake of North America and it is anticipated that discussions at the conference will provide insights into the causes of the Bhuj event and into the causes of midcratonic events in general. The purpose of the conference will be to provide a forum for Indian and foreign scientists to discuss the seismological, geological, geodynamic and engineering implications of Bhuj earthquake as well as characterization of seismic hazard in India. THEMES Bhuj earthquake of January 26, 2001 and its aftershocks Seismological and geological investigations Geodetic investigations and role of GPS and remote sensing Ground acceleration and engineering aspects Earthquake processes Seismotectonics with special reference to Indian Subcontinent Interplate Intraplate Seismic hazard assessment and microzonation GIS applications Mathematical modelling and simulation studies Recent trends in seismic monitoring Seismic instrumentation Data processing GPS and related studies Engineering aspects and earthquake resistant design Earthquake precursory studies It is planned to bring out a volume of extended abstracts for distribution among the participants during the conference. Full papers shall also be published in the form of proceedings. CALL FOR PAPERS Authors desirous of contributing papers covering one or more of the above themes should send their two page extended abstract (on A-4 size paper in single space including tables and figures) electronically (word document) by August 10, 2001 to either of the following convenors: Mr. R.S. Dattatrayam, Seismology Division, India Meteorological Department Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003 (India) Phone : 91-11-4624588 Fax: 91-11-4619943, 4623220, 4699216 Email: dattarayam_rs@hotmail.com Or Dr. A.K. Shukla, Seismology Division India Meteorological Department Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003 (India) Phone : 91-11-4619943 Fax: 91-11-4619943, 4623220, 4699216 Email: atindra_kumar_shukla@hotmail.com Papers will be tentatively accepted on the basis of extended abstracts. REGISTRATION FEE Category Amount Participants from India Participants from Abroad Rs. 2000 US $ 100 Registration fee covers all conference services like conference material, abstract volume, tea / coffee and working lunch. Registration fee for the Indian delegates may be sent through Demand Draft / Pay Order to Dr. A.K. Shukla, Convenor, Local Organizing Committee drawn in favour of “Hazard-2001” payable at New Delhi. Foreign delegates will be informed about the mode of payment of registration fee in due course. VENUE OF THE CONFERENCE Hotel Samrat, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021. CULTURAL PROGRAMME: A cultural programme will be arranged for all the delegates and accompanying persons. TOURS Pre and post Conference tours to tourist spots will be organized for the registered delegates and accompanying persons in and around Delhi as well as other places of interest. CURRENCY Rupee is the National Currency of India. All the major international currencies can be exchanged at the international Airports, 5-Star Hotels and Banks, Major currencies are accepted at hotels and some major shopping centres. International credit cards are widely accepted. ACCOMODATION: A wide range of accommodations varying from 5-star hotels to guest houses will be available. The likely tariffs are as follows: 5-Star Hotels US $ 150 - 300 Rs. 7500 -15000 Medium Range Hotels US $ 75 – 125 Rs. 3700 - 6200 (Current approximate exchange rate : 1 US $ = Indian Rs. 47) IMPORTANT DATES Receipt of abstracts: Acceptance of abstracts: August 10, 2001 August 20, 2001 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SEISMIC HAZARD WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO BHUJ EARTHQUAKE OF JANUARY 26, 2001 3-5 OCTOBER 2001 NEW DELHI PRE-REGISTRATION FORM AND NOTICE OF INTENT 1. Name _____________________________________________________________ (Block Letters) 2. Affiliation _________________________________________________________ 3. Full Postal Address ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ 4. Details of accompanying Person (s) _______________________________________ _____________________________________________________ 5. E-mail address _______________________________________________________ 6. Telephone _________________________ Fax ______________________________ 7. Presenting a Paper __________YES / NO ________________________________ (i) Author’s name _______________________________________________ (ii) Title of the Paper ______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 8. Additional information, if any ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________