Soil Gas Meters installed at various locations A research team of Career Point University has undertaken a project expected to open new frontiers in earthquake detection in the region. Under the project, headed by Dr Naveen Thakur and Dr Jitender, assistant professors in the university's Physics Department, Soil Gas Meters (SGMs) have been installed at different locations. The SGMs are purported to gather important data regarding the region's geology and expected to be a great help in earthquake prediction. Many districts, Kangra, Hamirpur, Chamba and Mandi, fall under seismic zones IV and V and the info thus gathered will facilitate geological studies and make for insight into disturbances in the earth’s crust. Kangra had experienced a massive earthquake in 1905, causing extensive loss in the region, while Kinnaur and Chamba areas have been experiencing tremors. Dr Thakur said, “Earthquakes have caused widespread destruction and anxiety. Their prediction has been a challenge; an advance made in the science of Radon measurement has shown the way." He said, “In the inner sphere of the earth, significant changes are taking place due to the emission of Radon trapped in the crust before tremors due to stresses, triggering earthquakes.” Waves are developing in the crust and gases are forming due to radioactive material like Radon and Theron; if their quantity is excessive, inner disturbances will be more. By installing the SGMs, the research team will study the presence of these gases in the crust, on the basis of which, prediction on seismic activity can be made. The research team has installed the SGMs in Dharamsala, Palampur, Shahpur, Mandi, Sundernagar, Sarkaghat and on the university campus in Hamirpur district. The team will monitor disturbances in the earth’s crust, with the detector recording these on a film. The report on the geological data will be submitted to the state government's Science and Technology Department. While research scholars from the Physics Department will be actively participating in the data collection, Dr Gulshan from Government College Sarkaghat is co-ordinating the project.