A GEOPHYSICAL INSIGHT OF EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED ON 21ST MAY 2014 OFF PARADIP, BAY OF BENGAL

M. S. Pathan, A. Sivasamy, G. V. Satyanarayan, R. V. Vairavan

Abstract: An earthquake of 6.0 magnitude on the Richter scale occurred around 21:52 hrs on 21 May 2014, nearly 275 km south-east of Paradip off Odisha coast. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Bay of Bengal (18.201°N, 88.019°E) at a depth of around 40 km. The tremors were experienced all along the east coast of India. Magnetic (T.F.) along with Bathymetric data collected during the cruise SM-232 (December 2013) of Marine & Coastal Survey Division, Geological Survey of India was analysed to study the neo-tectonic activity within the area off Paradip, Odisha coast where the above mentioned earthquake occurred. Detailed examination of the Magnetic (T.F.) anomaly data revealed the presence of major lineaments along NW-SE and NE-SW directions in the study area and the stress release activities from these lineaments may be responsible for this seismic event. The movements along the growth faults at the margins of large Bengal channels due to huge sediment loads could also play a significant role to developed seismicity across these margins.

Keywords: Magnetic, Bathymetry, Lineaments, Earthquake, Bengal Fan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0328004