2001 Gujarat earthquake

Earthquake
title=2001 Gujarat earthquake
date= January 26, 2001

---

magnitude = 7.7 M_w
depth=
location= Bhuj, Gujarat
countries affected = IND
casualties = Approximately 20,000 dead, 167,000 injured

The 2001 Gujarat earthquake occurred on January 26, 2001, which coincided with the 51st celebration of Republic Day (India) at 0317 hrs GMT. [cite web
author =
title = Preliminary Earthquake Report
publisher = USGS
url = http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2001/eq_010126/
date = 2001 January 26
accessdate = 2007-11-21 ] The location of the epicentre was Bhuj (23.6° N 69.8° E) Gujarat, India. With Moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.7, the quake killed more than 20,000 people and injured another 167,000 and destroyed near a million homes. [cite web
author =
title = Bhuj Earthquake
publisher =
url = http://www.rurkiu.ernet.in/centers/TIFAC/database/earth%20quakes/BHUJ_EQ.HTM
date = 2001-02-05
accessdate = 2007-11-21 ] throughout Gujarat and parts of Eastern Pakistan.

It happened because of tectonic plates releasing pressure in the area after a collision margin took place. A collision margin is where two continental plates collide and begin to rub, creating lots of pressure, until eventually it is released and creates an earthquake.

The earthquake is considered an intraplate earthquake because it occurred a great distance from any plate boundary, where the theory of plate tectonics says most earthquakes of this size happen. Because of this, this area was not completely prepared for an earthquake of such size.

The Effects

Because of its size and location,the quake was very destructive in terms of lives lost and damage to property. All the deaths occurred in India's western state of Gujarat, near the Pakistan border. Bhuj, situated only 20 kilometres (14 miles) from the epicentre, was the most devastated town.

Because of such a high magnitude (7.7) and duration (98 seconds), as many as 20,000 people were reported dead. As of February 3, the official toll had climbed to more than 30,000, though it later fell to 19,730. The final death toll of Kutch was 12,220. At least 150,000 more were reported injured. This too may be an underestimate. Over a million structures were damaged or destroyed, including many historic buildings and tourist attractions [e.g.julta minar made by ashoka near railway station] .Fact|date=February 2007

The quake destroyed a percent of the homes in Bhuj, several schools, and flattened the hospital. Considerable damage occurred also at Bhachau. In Ahmedabad, Gujarat's commercial capital and a city of 4.5 million, as many as 50 multistory buildings collapsed and several hundred people were killed. Total property damage was estimated at $5.5 billion and rising.The quake destroyed 75% of Kutch and over 80% of usable food and water supplies.

The district collector Anil Mukim oversaw the early delivery of aid and equipment to affected villages but then called for further aid deliveries to cease as they encouraged a "relief mentality" which would delay a return to normal life. [cite news| last =Malik |first =Rajiv |coauthors = |title =To Rebuild Kutch | work =Hinduism Today | pages = | publisher =Himalayan Academy | date =2001-08-18 | url =http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2001/7-8/18-26_disaster.shtml | accessdate =2008-08-26 ]

References

ee also

*2006 Gujarat earthquake

External links

* [http://www.bhujada.com/ Bhuj Area Development Authority]
* [http://asc-india.org/lib/20010126-kachchh.htm Special Event Page, Amateur Seismic Centre, India]
* [http://gujarat-earthquake.gov.in Gujarat Earthquake, Government of India]
* [http://cires.colorado.edu/~bilham/Gujarat2001.html Bhuj earthquake, University of Colorado ]
* [http://home.iitk.ac.in/~ramesh/gujrat/gujarat.htm Gujarat Earthquake, Pictures and Analysis]