In Bihar, the districts lying in the very high-intensity earthquake zone…

Concept

India's seismic zonation (BIS code IS:1893) grades land by expected earthquake intensity into Zone II to Zone V. Zone V is the "Very High Damage Risk Zone" — the highest band — where shaking of MSK intensity IX or more is probable. In Bihar, only the northern belt hugging the Nepal/Himalayan-front boundary reaches this highest grade.

Application

As classified by the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA), 8 of Bihar's districts lie in Zone V: Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Araria and Kishanganj — and of these, Madhubani and Supaul fall ENTIRELY within Zone V. Checking each offered pair against this list:

• Madhubani and Supaul — both appear in the Zone V list (and are the two districts that lie wholly in Zone V). This pair is the very-high-intensity zone.

• Pashchim Champaran and Purab Champaran — the Champaran districts are graded Zone IV (High Damage Risk), not Zone V.

• Purnea and Katihar — these north-eastern districts are graded Zone IV, not Zone V.

Cross-check

Since exactly one offered pair (Madhubani and Supaul) lies in Zone V, the qualifier "More than one of the above" does not hold, and "None of the above" is ruled out because a valid pair does exist. The very-high-intensity (Zone V) pair is Madhubani and Supaul.