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<p>Muzaffarpur, a major economic hub of North Bihar, is situated in seismic Zone IV of the Indian seismic zoning map and lies within the active Himalayan tectonic belt. The district has repeatedly suffered the consequences of large earthquakes, most notably the 1934 Bihar-Nepal earthquake, the 1988 Bihar-Nepal event, and the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, which caused widespread structural damage and human casualties. Rapid urbanization, critical lifeline facilities, and a large stock of unengineered masonry and reinforced concrete (RC) buildings exacerbate its seismic vulnerability. This study applies the Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) methodology to evaluate the seismic risk of 22 representative buildings within the MIT Muzaffarpur campus, comprising administrative offices, laboratories, hostels, staff quarters, and essential service structures. The methodology integrates structural and non-structural vulnerabilities with organizational preparedness to provide a holistic risk profile. Each building was assessed using probability–severity matrices, hazard indices, and Risk Assessment Codes (RAC), and subsequently classified into low, medium, high, or extremely high risk. The results indicate that over 65% of the surveyed buildings were constructed without reference to seismic codes, and more than 40% fall into high to extremely high-risk categories. Structural deficiencies including plan and elevation irregularities, lack of shear walls, and poor detailing were compounded by non-structural weaknesses such as unsafe parapets, deteriorated ceilings, and unsecured piping systems. In addition, limited evacuation planning and inadequate preparedness training further amplified risks. The findings are consistent with similar RVS-based studies in India, Nepal, Italy, and Portugal, confirming the reliability of RVS as a rapid, low-cost method for prioritizing vulnerable buildings. Policy recommendations include urgent detailed vulnerabilty assessment of high-risk hostels and residential quarters, stricter enforcement of seismic design codes for new construction, and integration of RVS outcomes with GIS-based mapping for regional disaster risk reduction planning.</p>

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Rapid visual screening for earthquake risk reduction: application to institutional and residential buildings in MIT Muzaffarpur campus Bihar, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月28日

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  • Vijay Kumar,
  • Akash Priyadarshee,
  • Madan Kumar,
  • Sunita kumari

摘要

Muzaffarpur, a major economic hub of North Bihar, is situated in seismic Zone IV of the Indian seismic zoning map and lies within the active Himalayan tectonic belt. The district has repeatedly suffered the consequences of large earthquakes, most notably the 1934 Bihar-Nepal earthquake, the 1988 Bihar-Nepal event, and the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, which caused widespread structural damage and human casualties. Rapid urbanization, critical lifeline facilities, and a large stock of unengineered masonry and reinforced concrete (RC) buildings exacerbate its seismic vulnerability. This study applies the Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) methodology to evaluate the seismic risk of 22 representative buildings within the MIT Muzaffarpur campus, comprising administrative offices, laboratories, hostels, staff quarters, and essential service structures. The methodology integrates structural and non-structural vulnerabilities with organizational preparedness to provide a holistic risk profile. Each building was assessed using probability–severity matrices, hazard indices, and Risk Assessment Codes (RAC), and subsequently classified into low, medium, high, or extremely high risk. The results indicate that over 65% of the surveyed buildings were constructed without reference to seismic codes, and more than 40% fall into high to extremely high-risk categories. Structural deficiencies including plan and elevation irregularities, lack of shear walls, and poor detailing were compounded by non-structural weaknesses such as unsafe parapets, deteriorated ceilings, and unsecured piping systems. In addition, limited evacuation planning and inadequate preparedness training further amplified risks. The findings are consistent with similar RVS-based studies in India, Nepal, Italy, and Portugal, confirming the reliability of RVS as a rapid, low-cost method for prioritizing vulnerable buildings. Policy recommendations include urgent detailed vulnerabilty assessment of high-risk hostels and residential quarters, stricter enforcement of seismic design codes for new construction, and integration of RVS outcomes with GIS-based mapping for regional disaster risk reduction planning.