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Case Study: Gujarat Earthquake 2001 Bhuj Earthquake: Preliminary Report from IITKanpur A Powerful Earthquake of magnitude 6.9 on Richter-Scale rocked the Western Indian State of Gujarat on the th 26 of January, 2001. It caused extensive damage to life & property. This earthquake was so devastating in its scale and suffering that the likes of it had not been experienced in past 50 years. Leaving thousands seriously injured, bruised and handicapped; both physically, psychologically and economically. The epicenter of the quake was located at 23.6 north Latitude and 69.8 east Longitude, about 20 km Northeast of Bhuj Town of the Kutch district in Western Gujarat. At a depth of only 23 kms below surface this quake generated intense shaking which was felt in 70% region of India and far beyond in neighbouring Pakistan and Nepal too. This was followed by intense after shocks that became a continued source of anxiety for the populace. The Seismicity of the affected Area of Kutch is a known fact with a high incidence of earthquakes in recent times and in historical past. It falls in Seismic Zone V. The only such zone outside the Himalayan Seismic Belt. In last 200 years important damaging earthquakes occurred in 1819, 1844, 1845, 1856, 1869,1956 in the same vicinity as 2001 earthquake. Twenty-one of the total 25 districts of the state was affected in this quake. Around 18 towns, 182 talukas and 7904 villages in the affected districts have seen large-scale devastation. The affected areas even spread up to 300 km from the epicentre. In the Kutch District, four major urban areas – Bhuj, Anjar, Bachau and Rapar suffered near total destruction. The rural areas in the region are also very badly affected with over 450 villages almost totally destroyed. In addition, wide spread damages also occurred in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Patan and Ahmedabad districts. Other Urban areas such as Ganhidham, Morvi, Rajkot and Jamnagar have also suffered damage to major structures,