State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 14 Feb 2024

Mild Earthquake Strikes Singrauli

Why in News?

Recently, a mild earthquake struck the region of Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh.

• Singrauli is known for its coal mines and power plants.

Key Points

• According to the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake's epicenter is located at a depth of 5 kilometers beneath the earth's surface.
  • Magnitude: 3.5
  • Latitude: 24.55
  • Longitude: 82.78

• Earthquake: An earthquake in simple words is the shaking of the earth. It is a natural event. It is caused due to release of energy, which generates waves that travel in all directions.
• Epicenter: The point on the surface, nearest to the focus, is called epicenter. It is the first one to experience the waves. It is a point directly above the focus.
• Focus: The point where the energy is released is called the focus of an earthquake, alternatively, it is called the hypocentre. The energy waves traveling in different directions reach the surface.
• National Center for Seismology (NCS): It works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring of earthquake activity in the country.