Have earthquakes really increased in India due to activation of Almora Fault?

Have earthquakes really increased in India due to activation of Almora Fault?

Subject :Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

• There has been an increase in the number of earthquakes in January to November, 2023 compared to the last three years and it was mainly attributed to the activation of the Almora fault in Western Nepal.

Details:

• However, various geologists reject the theory that Almora fault is active.
• None of the faults in the Himalayas — Main Boundary Thrust, North Almora Thrust or South Almora Thrust — are active.

Thrust fault:

• A thrust fault is a break in the Earth’s crust. There are two thrusts in Kumaon, Uttarakhand: One is the South Almora Thrust and the other is the North Almora Thrust.

Almora fault:

• The Almora fault is a high angle west-northwest-east-souteast to northwest-southeast trending tectonic plane that separates the Garhwal group of inner lesser Himalayas in the north from Jaunsarand Dudatoli Groups of outer lesser Himalayas in the south.
• This Almora Fault extends to western Nepal.
• The Almora Thrust is not deep and does not reach the mantle.

Main Himalayan Thrust:

• The Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) is a décollement under the Himalaya Range. This thrust fault follows a NW-SE strike, reminiscent of an arc, and gently dips about 10 degrees towards the north, beneath the region.
• It is the largest active continental megathrust fault in the world.

Source: Down To Earth