Intricacies of the Himalayan Seismotectonics and Seismogenesis: Need for Integrated Research

The 'Science of Himalaya' is a record of the most dramatic and visible creations of modern plate tectonic forces with hidden mystery of mantle dynamics, showing present-day convergence across different segments of the Himalaya. The Himalaya is standing as the water tower of Asia with high rate of uplift, hotspots of moderate to great damaging earthquakes, and the highest concentration of glaciers outside of the polar region, which need to be studied comprehensively using integrated tools of multi-disciplinary science to resolve several intricate issues, including tectonics and seismogenesis beneath the Himalayan region under climate change scenario. The integrated geoscientific research using different tools of geology, geophysics, seismology and geodetic science help to achieve common consensus among geoscientists on debatable issues related with the complex seismotectonic settings and seismogenesis. Here, several debatable issues related to the evolution of the Himalaya, its intricate seismotectonics and seismogenesis are discussed to demonstrate the need of integrated research for generating authenticate inputs for comprehensive developmental planning for the Himalayan region. It is inferred that results derived from integrated research by involving Indian and international institutions can provide a great opportunity to policy makers and planners to evolve a holistic strategy for natural disaster risk mitigation to make the Himalaya, the third pole, safer and prosperous.