Essay on Earthquake in English
Owing to some mysterious underground disturbance, the earth sometimes quakes or trembles and this is known as an earthquake. According to the old Indian belief the earth was supposed to be resting on the head of a divine cobra and whenever the cobra nodded its head, the earth trembled and there was an earthquake.
As to the causes of earthquake, it is found out that they are caused by volcanoes, and by the movement of rocks within the bosom of the earth; while it is also found out that they are due to the sudden contraction of the earth or the falling in of hollow spaces in the earth.
An earthquake is never pleasant to watch, much less to experience. It comes most suddenly and lasts for a few seconds; but those seconds seem a big period. They give you a sensation of riding on the back of a mad elephant.
Fortunately, when an earthquake is very mild and short-lived, we feel a little shaking in our beds and we get up from our beds on hearing our doors rattling as if somebody were knocking furiously at our doors at the dead of night.
But if the shock is intense, we see houses rocking and buildings and trees falling. There is a thundering noise mixed with the piteous cries of frightened children, crying women and men madly running to save their lives. Owing to friction and collision fire also breaks out. Wild animals, let loose from their cages, run down the streets.
Thus the whole place is in the jaws of destruction. Some, while trying to escape, are buried alive under the debris of falling houses. Others escape injured. The damage to property sometimes runs to millions. Rich and rare collections of art, books etc. are destroyed.
Beautiful buildings are turned into heaps of dust. There are even instances of whole cities and towns being destroyed within a few minutes. After-effects of an earthquake are many. The surface of the earth is changed at many places.
We find the ocean roaring where formerly a mountain stood and we find a mountain standing where formerly the sea roared. The level of land goes up or down at many places. Rivers change their course. Many small islands totally disappear under the water while many suddenly emerge from the water of the sea.
Earthquakes are common in volcanic regions like Italy and Japan and also in mountainous regions. It is remarkable that most of the earthquakes occur usually in winter. Soon after an earthquake, Government, people and social workers rush to the spot to help the victims.
Injured persons are removed to the nearest hospitals. Temporary hospitals are started and many doctors and nurses treat injured persons. Victims of the earthquake are given shelter in tents, and common kitchens are started to feed them. Clothes and medicines are distributed freely among them.
DIFFICULT WORDS
Mysterious-full of mystery, Rocking-shaking, Rattling-making sharp noises, Collision-dashing together, Furiously-violently, Debris-ruins, Intense-extreme, To emerge-to come out.
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