An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Bhuj in the Kutch district of Gujarat at 8:46 am on on 26 January 2001. It levelled several towns and villages within a matter of seconds.
The impact of the earthquake was also felt at the economic capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad, where tremors brought down residential and commercial complexes alike, burying many alive in the debris.
The earthquake marked a shift in the progress of Gujarat – the state rose from the ashes of devastation to become one of the fastest growing regions in the country.
The Quint met a few survivors as well as those engaged in rescue and relief efforts on that fateful day, 17 years ago. Dr Prutha Desai, a survivor, was trapped in the rubble for over 36 hours. Her arm had to be amputated so that she could be rescued. She was 12 years old at the time.
Chirag and Piyalee Patel were trapped in the rubble of the same apartment complex as Dr Prutha. The newlyweds say they survived the ordeal only because they braved it together. They spent 36 hours under the debris before rescuers found them.
The Quint also spoke to Rajesh Bhatt, who was the fire officer on duty that day. He was involved in the rescue efforts to pull out Dr Prutha, Chirag and Piyalee from the rubble. Maulin Munshi, from All India Radio, was one of the first persons to be assigned with the task of reconnecting Bhuj with the rest of the country. Recalling the grim scenes he witnessed at Bhuj, he says he resorted to recording voices of orphaned children so as to broadcast them across the nation in the hope that their families would come claim them.
The earthquake and its impact is still fresh in their minds and the survivors thank their stars for making it out alive, having seen death up close.
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
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