Gangtok, Dec. 1 -- India's updated seismic zonation map under the revised Earthquake Design Code has placed the entire Himalayan arc, including Sikkim, in the highest seismic vulnerability category, Zone VI. The shift marks a significant change in how earthquake threats are assessed nationally, especially for the Northeast where tectonic pressure remains extremely active.

Sikkim, which still carries the memory of the destructive earthquake of 11 September 2011, has been experiencing recurring tremors over the years. With the new classification, the state is now officially recognised as being at higher seismic risk than previously estimated. The revised assessment also reveals that 61 per cent of India is now categorised under moderate to...