The Holy Grail for geologists is the ability to predict an earthquake. While they continue their search, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) is putting in place a network by which they can forecast overall seismic activity in the Himalayas, one of the most quake-prone regions of the world.

"The continuous seismic monitoring of local and regional earthquakes will help evolve a stress pattern model for the entire vulnerable northeastern and Himalayan region besides adjoining countries of Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar and thereby establish a suitable earthquake precursor," said GSI Director General P M Tejale.

Tejale was here for the commissioning by GSI of a Multi-Parametric Geophysical Observatory (MPGO) at its Tripura-Mizoram division office in Agartala. Many of the electronic instruments in this observatory are being deployed for the first time in India.