Afghanistan Earthquake (Sept 2025) – UPSC Relevance

📰 Context

• A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan (near Jalalabad, Kunar province), killing 800+ people and injuring nearly 2,800.

• Destruction spread across at least five provinces; shallow depth and vulnerable housing amplified casualties.

• Rescue operations face challenges due to blocked mountain roads and remoteness of villages.

• UN, Pope, and international leaders expressed solidarity.

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🔑 Key Facts for Prelims

• Epicentre: ~27 km off Jalalabad (Hindu Kush range).

• Reason: Convergence of Eurasian & Indian tectonic plates (seismically active zone).

• Afghanistan Vulnerability: Mud-brick housing, poor infrastructure, mountainous terrain.

• Historical Context: Since 1900 → 12 earthquakes >7 magnitude in northeast Afghanistan.

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📘 Mains Relevance (GS Paper II & III)

1. Disaster Management

• Challenges: Inaccessibility, weak institutions, absence of international aid coordination under Taliban regime.

• Lessons for India: Need to strengthen disaster resilience in Himalayan states (Uttarakhand, Himachal, J&K, Northeast).

2. International Relations

• Afghanistan shares borders with Pakistan, Iran, Central Asia, China → instability affects regional security.

• India’s humanitarian assistance (Operation Dost during Turkey earthquake, past aid to Afghanistan) reflects “Neighbourhood First + Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” principles.

3. Geography Linkage

• Plate tectonics: Indo-Eurasian plate collision → Himalayan and Hindu Kush seismicity.

• Why shallow quakes deadly? Energy released closer to surface → greater ground shaking, high fatalities.

4. Socio-economic Dimension

• Refugees and returnees (from Iran, Pakistan) worst hit, highlighting link between migration, poverty & disaster vulnerability.

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📝 UPSC Mains Question Practice

Q. “Earthquakes in South Asia are more of a governance and vulnerability issue than a geological inevitability.” Discuss with reference to Afghanistan and India.

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⚡ Rapid Prelims Pointers

• Ring of Fire vs Hindu Kush seismicity → UPSC often asks tectonic comparisons.

• Disaster Management Act, 2005 (India) → Compare India’s institutional framework with fragile states like Afghanistan.

• Sendai Framework (2015–30): Global benchmark for disaster risk reduction.

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✅ Takeaway for UPSC:

• For Prelims: Location of epicentre, tectonic plates, seismology basics.

• For Mains (GS-II & III): Disaster management, India’s regional diplomacy, vulnerability of South Asia to natural disasters.

• For Essay: Humanitarian crises + governance failure = amplified impact of natural hazards.