ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY BASED SHALLOW CRUSTAL DEFORMATION ANALYSIS IN AN ACTIVE SEISMIC ZONE

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the shallow crustal deformation in a highly seismic-prone zone of
northeast India. For that purpose, Tripura University campus has been selected which is
nearly 8 km away from Agartala city. The field work was conducted by using electrical
resistivity meter. Vertical Electrical Sounding or VES method of resistivity survey was
adopted for measuring the electrical resistivity and structural analysis of the study area.
Total four VES points were recorded namely near the Department of Physics, Department of
Geography and Disaster Management, Teachers’ Residential area and Girls’ Hostel. The
recorded data was measured and two different electrical profiles were drawn i.e. (a) Physics
building to Geography buildings and (b) teachers’ quarters to Girls’ Hostel. From the
electrical resistivity profiles, a clear break in resistivity characters has been observed in the
western part which is located near the Tripura University Girls’ Hostel. This clearly proves
that a deformation occurred in this area below 4 m depth and it can be very dangerous if a
high magnitude seismic slip takes place. From this observation, this hostel is detected as the
most risk prone building. Apart from that, the teachers’ quarters near the Girls’ hostel have
also been detected as equally risk prone. From this point of view it can be recommended that
construction of heavy buildings should be restricted in Tripura University campus as the
subsurface deformation zone can create faulting during high magnitude earthquake.