ECUNDERABAD: Hyderabad is located in a zone where earthquakes up to 5.0 on the richter scale can occur. But, any seismic activity in the eastern side, which includes Godavari and Bandrachalam which are located in a zone where earthqukes that measure up to 5.7 on the scale can occur, can affect the city.

"We do not expect an earthquake in Hyderabad, but earthquakes are a phenomenon that cannot be predicted," National Geophysical Research Institute, Deputy Director B K Rastogii told "The Times of India".

Moreover no detailed study has been done about fractures and no geophysical studies have been done in Hyderabad regarding earthquakes, Rastogi said.

"It is advisable that highrise buildings in Hyderabad and surrounding areas be constructed along standards laid down for Zone 3 areas, even though Hyderabad lies in a Zone 2 area," he said.

Rastogi said the Jubilee hills and Banjara hills areas were prone to minor tremors which may measure up to 2.0 on the richter scale due to certain fractures present there.

The deputy director said earthquakes up to about 6 on the richter scale can cause collapse of walls and cracks in buildings up to 15 kilometer of the epicentre of the quake.

India has been divided into four seismic zone, Zone 2 upto 5.0 on the richter scale, Zone 3 upto 5.7 on the richter scale, Zone 4 upto 6.3 on the richer scale and Zone 5, 7.0 or more on the richer scale.

Four earthquakes occured in and around Hyderabad in the past. The first one in 1843 in Hyderabad measured 3.7 on the richter scale, the second in 1876 in Hyderabad measured 5.0 on the richter scale, the third at Gandipet in 1982 measuring 3.2 on the richer scale and the fourth at Medchal in 1983 measuring 4.0 on the richer scale.

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NEW DELHI: On the eve of their final test before the Supreme Court on the CNG issue, the Delhi government looked heavenwards for some kind of help.

Sheila Dikshit and Parvez Hashmi turned up at an akhand path organised by transporters' unions on Wednesday, hoping God, if no one else, would bail them out of this drawn-out crisis.

"Bhagwan ka ashirwad hum sabke saath rahe," Dikshit muttered, being the first to arrive at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Clad in a cream sari, she was given a saffron 'saropa' by the head priest. Then came Hashmi, who too hoped "all would be blessed". Perhaps by another extension of the deadline.

But it was not just members of the government largely to blame for the mess that put in a show. Political foes finally got to agree on one point about the CNG issue: only God can resolve it.

BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana, architect of many anti-government protests, lent his voice, and a broad smile. So did former Delhi industry minister Harsharan Singh Balli.

The three-day recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib was organised by the Delhi transporters' unions, hoping for an extension in the CNG conversion deadline which expires this month.

The transporters, happy to see politicians from both sides of the divide there, requested Dikshit and Hashmi to stay on. The chief minister promptly excused herself saying "Assembly mein bhi jaana hai."

Khurana and Hashmi seemed so in tune, they came out with a joint statement: "Both the Union and city governments extend their support for the transporters' cause."

After having 'bhog', they spent a few minutes with heads lowered, prayed for blessings, and then left.

Soon after the politicians left, the transporters shifted base to Bhagwan Dass Road near the Supreme Court. Led by the Contract Bus Association chief Harish Sabharwal, they sat on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding an extension of the September 30 deadline. "After knocking on the doors of God, it's time to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court," said Sabharwal.

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