11/03 The Day Japan Stood Still

Gujarat, India Earthquake 2001- a Case Study

India is situated on a collision margin. The Indo-Australian and Eurasian plate collides into each other. Both of the plates can’t turn downwards so the land where the two plates meet was forced upwards. By this process the Himalayas were formed over the past 60 million years.

When the two continental plates move towards each other the pressure eventually becomes bigger and bigger, so then the pressure gets released and this caused the earthquake in India.

The Earthquake 

On 26th of January 2001India was celebrating National Day, on the same day an earthquake struck at 08:46 am in Gujarat scaled 7.9 Richter scale. Its epicenter was Bhuj; in this earthquake around 20,000 people died in first place, as the time passed the death toll increased by approximately 30,000 and 200,000 people were injured

.Children were the most affected by the earthquake becauase they have lost their lives or have lost the family members. the two main city hospitals were full of children. A school collapsed  trapping 30 young students. Schools will take time to work normally.

According to the Confederation of Indian Industries and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industrythe cost of reconstruction and extensive repairs of buildings have been estimated to the tune of US$ 33millions.

the impact of this earthquake was felt in the following places Delhi, Bombay,Jaipur, Chennai and in the town of Pondicherry in the south-east India as well as in neighboring  countires  like Pakistan , Bangladesh and Nepal.

Measures Taken

Regarding the earthquake the Indian Government have decided to reconstruct every buildings which have been affected by earthquake in a proper manor that could could resist the next earthquake. high-rise buildings will not be accepted in the municipal area of Kutch. Wide roads will be constructed so that people could run away from the buildings which could collapse. The State Government will provide insurance to all school going children under Vidyadeep Scheme. this scheme will be applied to educational tours, school picnics, road accidents, fires, drowning and climbing accidents.