Application of Microzonation Towards System-Wide Seismic Risk Assessment of Railway Network: Fid-Bau Portal

Application of Microzonation Towards System-Wide Seismic Risk Assessment of Railway Network

Ansari, Abdullah / Rao, K. Seshagiri / Jain, Arvind K.

Regarding passenger safety and railway network serviceability, the effects of earthquakes on underground transportation systems situated in seismically active regions yield a great challenge. The difficulties are exacerbated by poor weathering and difficult geological conditions. The 345 km long Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir is a railway track with underground tunnels and bridges that traverses the tectonically active area of the north-western part of the Himalayas under difficult geological conditions. In this study, outcomes of seismic hazard and microzonation studies are used to evaluate the seismic risk and post-seismic serviceability of this project. The seismic hazard analysis showed that the south-western region, which comprises the districts of Poonch, Rajouri, and portions of Jammu, as well as the north-eastern areas of Kishtwar, is at the highest risk. The tunnel sections situated near zones prone to landslides and large tectonic sources showed significant deformation, squeezing, and cavity formation during the excavation process. The progressive effect of these issues increases the probability that these tunnels may get extensive damage, which would render the track segment inoperable under post-seismic conditions. The risk matrices provided in this study will serve as a valuable tool for increasing public awareness and directing track operations in the future event of major near-field or far-field earthquake events in Jammu and Kashmir.