Case Study

Gujarat Earthquake

• 6.9 on Richter-Scale rocked the Western Indian State of Gujarat on the 26th of January, 2001.
• Government of India figures place the death toll at 19,727 and the number of injured at 166,000. 

1. The epicenter was near the remote Little Rann of Kutch, but within 150 to 200 kilometers of several villages and towns. The proximity to populated areas, coupled with a shallow 17-kilometer focus, resulted in massive destruction and fatalities
2. The affected area also experienced magnitude 5.0 to 5.8 aftershocks for several days subsequent to the main earthquake 

DAMAGE CAUSED BY EARTHQUAKE

1. Both rail and highway traffic into and out of the entire Kachchh region was completely cut off for two days. Numerous bridges, dams, and ports were destroyed or severely damaged as a result of liquifaction of the blue marine clay soil on which they are constructed.
2. Total blackout resulted in several towns and villages; communications in Bhuj were disrupted for two days when fiber optic cables were damaged, and water supplies were affected as liquifaction caused some wells to become turbid and others tested positive for metal contaminants and anaerobic sludge .
3. Approximately 1,000,000 homes were destroyed or seriously damaged, as were many commercial, industrial, and public utility facilities.