# Q7B · Describe in brief any 5 key highlights and adverse effects of “Gujarat Earthquake - 2…

Subject: Disaster Management

Exam: TEE

Reader: https://deep-learning-study-room.vercel.app/dm/#tee/papers/paper-2024-12-10/q7b

Canonical: https://deep-learning-study-room.vercel.app/read/dm/tee/papers/paper-2024-12-10--q7b/

Actual older TEE paper · 100 marks · Q1 compulsory; any four of Q2–Q7

### Q7B. Describe in brief any 5 key highlights and adverse effects of “Gujarat Earthquake - 2001”. [10 marks]

#### Answer

1. **Event and setting:** On 26 January 2001 a major earthquake struck the Kutch region of Gujarat.
2. **Causes and vulnerability:** Fault rupture caused strong shaking; vulnerable buildings and lifelines amplified losses.
3. **Impacts:** Building collapse, deaths and injuries, disrupted services and large housing and livelihood needs.
4. **Response and recovery:** Search and rescue, medical help and temporary shelter; longer-term reconstruction and institutional strengthening.
5. **Lessons:** Use seismic design and retrofitting, improve construction quality, protect lifelines, train communities, support owner/community participation and rebuild with risk reduction.

#### Real programme · Gujarat earthquake recovery

GSDMA’s reconstruction and mason-training programmes connect recovery with safer rebuilding. The principle is to improve construction capacity and resilience while restoring what was damaged, rather than simply reproduce the previous vulnerability.

[Case reference ↗](https://www.gsdma.org/Content/masons-training-certification-programme-4223)

Following the 26 January 2001 earthquake, Gujarat’s recovery programme linked reconstruction with longer-term risk reduction. Six relevant measures are:

1. **Institutional strengthening.** GSDMA was established in February 2001 to coordinate reconstruction and develop preparedness and mitigation capacity.
2. **Safer housing repair and reconstruction.** The programme repaired and rebuilt damaged homes; risk reduction requires appropriate earthquake-resistant design and construction quality rather than simple replacement.
3. **Restoration of critical public facilities.** Schools, hospitals, water systems and other public assets were repaired or reconstructed to restore essential functions and improve safety.
4. **Town planning and access.** Reconstruction in affected towns included improved roads, planned open spaces and services, supporting evacuation and future emergency access.
5. **Training construction workers.** Training and certification of masons and capacity building for engineers promoted earthquake-resistant construction practices.
6. **Community preparedness and long-term systems.** Multi-hazard preparedness, community participation and strengthened emergency-management institutions connected recovery to future resilience.