Two consecutive powerful earthquakes (7.2 and 7.5) that occurred in the South American country Venezuela have caused massive destruction. Many buildings collapsed due to the strong earthquake. Major cracks appeared on most of the roads. More than 10 thousand people are feared dead in this flood. Major shocks have also occurred in America, Japan, Brazil and Colombia. This devastating earthquake is being discussed everywhere in the world, but a similar earthquake had occurred in India 25 years ago, when more than 15 thousand people were killed due to this earthquake and it also caused huge devastation.
We are talking about the devastating earthquake that occurred 25 years ago on January 26, 2001, in the Bhuj area, 300 kilometers away from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The country was celebrating its 52nd Republic Day. Preparations for the parade were going on in the capital Delhi. But meanwhile, a strong earthquake hit Bhuj in Gujarat, Western India at 8.46 am. The incident broke out and the then Vajpayee government started a campaign for the victims.
While the US Geological Survey measured its intensity at 7.5, the Indian Meteorological Department declared it an earthquake of magnitude 6.9. Apart from Gujarat, the impact of the earthquake also extended to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Besides, the earthquake also caused devastation in Sindh province of neighboring country Pakistan.
The epicenter of the earthquake that occurred in the morning of 26 January 2001 was about 9 kilometers south-south-west of Chobari village in Bhachau taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat. The maximum Mercalli intensity of this earthquake was XII (highest). More than 1.5 crore people were affected due to the earthquake.
The earthquake showed its devastation and after some time left traces of destruction everywhere. Thousands of people died in this earthquake. About 2 lakh people were injured. Thousands of houses were also razed to the ground. On March 20, a report was released by the Government of India regarding the destruction of the earthquake in which more than 20 thousand people died. More than 1.66 lakh people were injured and 37 thousand houses were completely destroyed.
The tremors of this earthquake were felt in most parts of the country and there was considerable damage in large areas. Tremors were felt in about 20 districts of Gujarat alone and damage was also caused at many places. The entire Kutch region of the state – which is surrounded on three sides by the 'Great Run of Kutch', the 'Little Run of Kutch' and the Arabian Sea – was the most affected.
Apart from Bhuj of Kutch region, this devastation was seen extensively in Anjar, Bhachau, Rapar and Ahmedabad. Other major losses in the Kutch region included liquefaction of the ground. Earthen dams about 20 meters high were broken, many bridges were damaged. Railways and highways were broken at many places. Because of this, people were forced to stay in earthquake relief centers for a long time.
More than 18 thousand people died in Kutch region due to the earthquake. After this, maximum deaths occurred in Ahmedabad. According to Bhuj Area Development Authority, 2,370 people died while 3,187 people were seriously injured in Bhuj city of Kutch district alone. In the earthquake, 11,036 houses completely collapsed and 27,617 houses were partially damaged.
Whereas in Ahmedabad, 760 people were killed and more than 60 4-storey buildings and 4 10-storey buildings collapsed. 433 people were killed in Rajkot and 119 people were killed in Jamnagar. Due to this worst earthquake in the last 5 decades, the country had to suffer an economic loss of about Rs 22 thousand crores. In the neighboring country Pakistan, 19 people died while about 2 thousand houses were destroyed.
