If the earthquake is mild, it does not do much harm. But if it is violent, its effect is dangerous. It causes a great loss of life and property. If the earth trembles for two or three minutes violently, many brick-built houses fall down and the inmates are buried alive. It is difficult for men to remain standing. If they cannot run away to an open place they may be killed by the falling of houses. Due to severe shocks, trees are uprooted and the earth of one place may go down and that place may be filled with water from below. Sometimes the water of ponds and rivers swells all on a sudden and sometimes the water of a river or a part of the ocean is dried up, and land appears there. Thousands of lives are lost. Many people become wounded. Many people may save their lives, but their properties are lost. Thus they become poor. Crops are destroyed. As a result a famine may break out. People from other parts of the country should help these people with sufficient money to make good their losses.