A ${\sim}$60 km long Veldurti–Kalva–Gani (VKG) fault is one of the identified strike-slip faults extending from Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) to Cuddapah basin in South Indian Shield. The recorded recent seismic activity during year 2012–2016 show occurrences of three microseismic events (<$M_{w}$ 2.0) in the vicinity of this fault. Historically, no major seismic events are recorded near this fault except magnitude of 5.0–5.9 (1843) earthquake at about ${\sim}$80 km west of this fault near Bellary. In the present study, analysis of available gravity, aeromagnetic and newly acquired ground gravity and magnetic data in the vicinity of the fault has been carried out to understand subsurface characteristics of this VKG fault and nearby structural features related to recent seismic activity. Analysis of aeromagnetic and gravity data shows shallow origin of the fault and earthquakes are associated with the zone of intersection like cross faults/lineaments which are parallel and perpendicular to the VKG fault. The calculated log normalized radially averaged power spectrum of the available gravity and aeromagnetic data shows four average depths $h_{0}$ (12.7 km), $h_{1}$ (6 km), $h_{2}$ (2.0 km) and $h_{3}$ (0.5 km). These estimated depths are possibly, bottom of the upper crust, thickness of the Cuddapah basin sediments, horizon of the basic sills, flows and the ferruginous quartzites and cumulative stratigraphic thickness of the Tadpatri shales and the Kurnools in the areas, respectively. The jointly inverted 2-D model from the ground gravity and aeromagnetic data along 2.7 km profile across VKG fault shows, faulting between Banganapalli Quartzite and Tadpatri Shales. The estimated average focal depth from the observed microseismic events is around 13 km. It is concluded from the present study that the observed microseismic events in the vicinity of VKG fault are associated with the intersection zones of cross faults/lineaments near the VKG fault and originated at an average depth of 13 km might be bottom of the upper crust. The estimated depths from the present analysis are well corroborated with previous geophysical studies.

$\bf{Highlights}$

$\bullet$ Mapping of Veldurti–Kalva–Gani fault through gravity, magnetic and aeromagnetic data which is associated with recent seismic activity.

$\bullet$ Understanding of origin of the seismic activity through spectral analysis.

$\bullet$ Estimation of depth to the basement, upper crust and thickness of Cuddapah basin sediments in the study region.

$\bullet$ Estimation of focal depth from seismological data and corroboration with spectral analysis of gravity and aeromagnetic data.

Seismographs record earthquakes and also record various types of noise, including anthropogenic noise. In the present study, we analyse the influence of the lockdown due to COVID-19 on the ground motion at CSIR-NGRI HYB Seismological Observatory, Hyderabad. We analyse the noise recorded a week before and after the implementation of lockdown by estimating the probability density function of seismic power spectral density and by constructing the daily spectrograms. We find that at low frequency (${\le}$1 Hz), where the noise is typically dominated by naturally occurring microseismic noise, a reduction of ${\sim}$2 dB for secondary microseisms (7–3 s) and at higher frequency (1–10 Hz) a reduction of ${\sim}$6 dB was observed during the lockdown period. The reduction in higher frequencies corresponding to anthropogenic noise sources led to improving the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) by a factor of 2 which is the frequency bandwidth of the microearthquakes leading to the identification of microearthquakes with Ml around 3 from epicentral distances of 180 km.

Earthquakes in the Himalayan arc occur due to the interaction of Indian and Eurasian plates, and a great majority of themare of interplate type, occurring on the MainHimalayan Thrust (MHT). Some earthquakes, however, occur south of the Himalayan arc within the subducting Indian plate and majority of these earthquakes occur on the subducting ridges of the Indian plate, the most prominent of which is the Delhi–Haridwar ridge. The December 1, 2020 ($M_L$ 4.3,$M_W$ 3.8) earthquake is one such event whose source parameters are very well constrained by the local network installed in the region. The earthquake occurred close to theHimalayan Frontal Thrust at a depth of 36 km. The estimated focal mechanism from moment tensor inversion shows a strike-slip mechanism, with P-axis orientation concurrent with Indian plate motion with respect to Eurasia. The stress drop of 9.4 ± 3.7 MPa is consistent with relatively higher stress drop in intraplate earthquakes. Based on the estimated parameters, we qualitatively evaluated whether it occurred (i) on the newly discovered southernmost deformation front, referred as the piedmont fault, which developed in response to the southward propagation of the Himalayan wedge, (ii) due to Cexure in the Indian plate caused by long term subduction, (iii) due to strong coupling on theMHTcausing Cexure in the foreland, and (iv) on the northward extension of theDelhiHaridwar ridge.We propose that it probably occurred on the northward continuation of the Delhi–Haridwar ridge as similar earthquakes occur on this ridge in and around the Delhi region. We also suggest that the 1988 Udaipur (Nepal) earthquake, which had a similar focal depth, location, and focal mechanism, occurred on the Munger–Saharsa ridge’s northward continuation. The strong coupling on the MHT in the adjoining Himalayan segments might have helped in the occurrence of both earthquakes.