Active faults and neotectonic activity in the Pinjaur Dun, northwestern

Manifestation of ongoing active tectonics in the Himalayan foothill region is evident from a number of major M > 7.5 and great earthquakes (M ≅ 8) which occurred within the last century or so, besides the recurrent seismic events of moderate magnitude. Active faults of the Himalaya are significant in the study of active tectonics because displacements along them reflect the continued tectonic movements. The present study deals with morpho-structural analysis using remotely sensed data along with selected field investigations in delineating new traces of active faults in the Pinjaur Dun of the northwestern Frontal Himalaya. Fault scarps with heights varying from 5 to 25 m observed along the faults are indicative of long term uplift/deformation in the current tectonic regime and cumulative slip along them. These active faults are signatures of Quaternary tectonics in the zone between the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and the Himalayan Frontal Thrust.