Santa and Banta are sitting inside a beautifully preserved, but typically dark, ancestral home in their village. The walls are thick, made of stone and wood. There’s one small, sturdy wooden darvaja and only a couple of small, deeply set khidkiya. “Banta,” Santa says, squinting a little, “these old houses are so strong, no doubt.” […]
Earthquake
The Giant’s Overflowing Bathtub
Think glacial lakes are just scenic spots? In the shadow of the Himalayas, they are “Giant Bathtubs” waiting for a shake. Santa and Banta explore how earthquakes can trigger catastrophic floods (GLOFs) and why seismic safety is now a water-management issue.
The ‘Combo Meal’ of Chaos
What’s worse than a Great Earthquake? An earthquake that strikes during a record-breaking monsoon. Discover why Santa thinks disasters have “manners” and why Banta insists that in 2026, we must prepare for the “Combo Meal” of seismic and climatic fury.
Santa’s “Solid Stone is Best” vs. Banta’s “Wood-Stone Jugalbandi”
Special care was taken to assemble wood and stone components of the walls of the multistories traditional houses of the Himalayan region and this made these structures earthquake safe.
Survival Guide for Homeowners and Builders
चलता हैं attitude of ours could be life-threatening. When building a house the homeowner must be vigilant and ensure that there is no negligence or omission and the house is ready to survive seismic shaking.
The Seismic-Frost Paradox: North India’s New Geological Frontier
Winter in the Himalayas has a new, invisible threat: the Seismic-Frost Paradox. As India reclassifies its mountains into the high-risk Zone VI, we dive deep into why freezing soil and tectonic stress are a lethal combination for our hill towns—and how we must re-engineer our future to survive.
Enhancing Seismic Resilience: Delhi NCR’s Race Against the Central Himalayan Gap
The Afghan earthquake is a chilling reminder of the Central Seismic Gap threatening Delhi NCR. This article details the urgent strategies required, from a National Retrofitting Fund to code enforcement, to avert a major urban catastrophe.
Santa’s Heavy Duty Survival Kit
Survival kit is for immediate survival and mobility – keep it light and at an easily accessible place – regularly replace expired items.
Rishikesh: At the Crossroads of Faith and Fault Lines – A Strategy for Urban Disaster Resilience
Safe from disasters in the past makes one ignore vulnerability of Rishikesh. High footfall of pilgrims, tourists and adventure enthusiasts however enhances the risk and calls for undertaking urban resilience measures.
Mounting Earthquake Risk in Uttarakhand
Ignorance or indifference, be what we are faced with mounting earthquake risk in Uttarakhand and but for immediate and serious corrective measures we are to face disastrous consequences.