PHOTOGRAPHS OF DAMAGE BY THE KOYNA EARTHQUAKE OF

DECEMBER 1967

Before the impoundment of the Sivaji Sagar (Koyna Dam) Lake in 1962, the
Koyna- Warna Region was not famous, at least for its seismicity. Since 1963 the
region witnessed protracted seismicity and still continuing. Logically the
seismicity has been linked with the reservoir filling, which is possibly not the
ultimate cause for generating these earthquakes but plays the role of catalytic
responsibility to trigger the same.

On the early morning of 11 December 1967 [10 December; 22h 51m 23.3s GMT]
a moderate but damaging earthquake struck Koyna region. The magnitude of the
shock was Ms 6.3; Mb 5.9; Mo 8.2 x 1029 dyne.cm. It was a shallow foci
earthquake and estimates of focal depth vary from 5 to 27 km. The earthquake
claimed around 200 lives and 80% of houses in Koyna Nagar was badly
damaged. The maximum epicentral intensity was VIII+ in MM scale.
Development of ground fissures, changes in water level and slumping/ rock-slips
accompanied the earthquake.

A few photographs depicting damage by the earthquake is available with

the present compiler and is being uploaded with the purpose of
dissemination of information.
Photo Description
K1 Collapse of building in Koynanagar; dressed masonry wall is standing;
note constructional crack pattern in brick partition wall.
K2 Complete collapse of Marathi Primary School, near market place,
Koynanagar
K3 Collapse of wall in Administrative and Drawing Office building,
Koynanagar
K4 Cracks along constructional joints in walls; RCC beam and pillar intact,
Koynanagar
K5 Collapse of concrete beam facing portico; note electric fan and fittings
intact; Chummary at Koynanagar
K6 Collapse of NE top of Chummary wall- Pophli; note star crack extending
downwards along construction joints
K7 Bulging of bolted window facing east at Chummary, Koynanagar
K8 Star crack on wall at Chummary, Koynanagar
K9 A Kutcha house in state of complete collapse near Baje
K10 Complete destruction of house near Donichawada
K11 Buckling & collapse of parapet wall near milestone 58/5, Karad- Guhagarh
Road
K12 Buckling & collapse of parapet wall near milestone 55/7, Karad- Guhagarh
Road
K13 Collapse of two central piers in Helwak Bridge; note horizontal lava in the
background
K14 Tulsi Brindavan at Nanel showing movement by 6 cm N10W
K15 N-S crack across the Guhagarh- Karad Road near 55/1 milestone
K16 N5W trending crack in fields NNE of Rohine Temple showing upheaval
of 7 cm
K17 E-W crack on Guhagarh-Karad Road near 55/2-3 milestone
K18 N10E trending crack in field NE of Donichawada