Silchar, Feb. 14: The steel and concrete buildings in the hill state of Mizoram, particularly those in the capital city of Aizawl, are architecturally so weak that most of these do not stand a chance to withstand a high-velocity tremor.

This apprehension was expressed by the National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCCL), which was engaged in construction activities in the state for infrastructure development.

A.K. Bansal, the deputy general manager of the NBCCL, made it clear that the state might reel under a catastrophe in case of a high-intensity earthquake.

He said there was a chance of an earthquake hitting the state as it falls under the vulnerable seismic zone V.

Bansal said the plethora of highrises, perched on the hill slopes, which were geologically described as too young and hence had not been properly safeguarded against the hazards of the underground convulsions, had now been mushrooming in the state, particularly in Aizawl.

He said most of these buildings, some of them rising eight to 10 storeys, had not taken even rudimentary precautions against earthquakes.

The NBCCL has advised the state PWD and science and technology wing to frame a building manual incorporating the various dos and don'ts for constructing the highrises on hill slopes.