LEDC CASE STUDY : GUJERAT, INDIA

Level of development : MEDC or LEDC?

The area is relatively poor in natural resources. They

have 24 percent of the household below the poverty

line. Literacy averages 61 percent overall. Their infant

mortality rates are 64 per thousand births. Sixty

percent of people in rural areas, and 87 percent of

people in urban areas of Gujarat have access to safe

water.Other indicators of poverty (child malnutrition

levels) show that the poor–especially women and

children–may be more disadvantaged than the figures

above suggest. The National Family Health Survey

(1998-99) found that over 45 percent of children in

Gujarat were wasted, and over 50 percent were

stunted (an indicator of chronic malnutrition).

Why did it happen?

India lies on a collision plate margin. The Indo-

Australian and the Eurasian Plate collide into each

other at the rate of around 2cm per year. As neither

plate can subduct (both plates are continental) the

land where the two plates meet is forced upwards. As

the two continental plates move towards each other

pressure builds up. Eventually this pressure is released

– this caused the earthquake in India.

Where did it happen?

The earthquake occurred in north-western India. The

epicenter was 20 km north-east of the city of Bhuj in

the north-western state of Gujerat. The area that

was affected the most wereKutch, Ahmedabad,

Jamnagar, Patan, Rajkot, and Surendranagar.

When did it happened?

On January 26th 2001, an earthquake that measured

7.9 on the Richter Scale occurred at around 8.46 a.m.

local time.

What happened?

Almost 20,000 people confirmed as dead, and another

166,000 injured. Add to that a further 600,000 left

homeless, almost 350,000 homes destroyed and

another 844,000 damaged and it becomes obvious that

this was a major humanitarian disaster. The Indian

government has calculated that in one way or another,

the 'quake had an effect on 15.9 million people - nearly

half the population of India.

Primary effects

The ancient walled city of Buhj was almost

totally destroyed, as was nearby Anjar.

At least 20 000 people killed

Initial figures suggested approx. 150 000 people

injured

The high death toll was due to the poor

construction of the buildings.

350 000 buildings destroyed and 750 000

damaged

400 school children and their teachers were

covered by tons of falling masonry.

16 million people were affected in India

More than 50 high-rise buildings collapsed close

to the epicenter.

Secondary effects

An estimated 1 000 000 people were made

homeless and in need of immediate relief

including water, food, shelter and protection

from disease.

After the initial earthquake thousands slept in

the open air (for fear of being caught in

collapsing buildings) – danger of exposure

Victims were all vulnerable to diseases (typhoid,

cholera and gastroenteritis)

Many hospitals were destroyed – patients

treated in the open air (desperate need for beds

and medical supplies for the wounded).

Gas pipelines, power supply stations, phone lines

and water services were severely affected.

Tens of thousands of people fled Gujerat as

aftershocks continued.

Approx. 350 aftershocks, the largest measuring

6.0

Short – term responses

Indians troops, from neighboring Pakistan and

from across the world came to help.

But due to the damage to the transport system,

power and communication, this made finding who

needed help and getting it to them very difficult.

Many people were immediately mobilized to help

themselves, digging out their neighbors and

providing whatever assistance they could.

The national and state governments quickly

provided assistance in many forms including cash,

medical supplies, communications teams,

shelters, food, clothing, transport and relief

workers

Officials returned to work quickly to help

coordinate relief activities even though they too

had lost their own families.

Local industries donated equipment and

personnel for the search and rescue operation.

The NGO network in Gujerat quickly rallied to

support community efforts.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian

Affairs (OCHA) sent a five-member UN Disaster

Assessment and Coordination team on January

27, the day following the disaster.

Long – term responses

The Indian government received help from the

World Bank ($500 million) and the Asian

development bank ($150 million)

Quake - proof housing was introduced.

But because of the extra cost and need for more

homes very quickly, some builders did not comply

with the new standards and government did not

force them.

The World Bank and the ADB jointly undertook a

preliminary assessment of damage and

reconstruction needs resulting from the

earthquake.

The assessment encompassed extensive field

visits in rural and urban areas throughout the

disaster area, and widespread consultation with

villagers, urban dwellers, NGOs, industries, and

UN and bilateral agencies working in the area.

The field visits were conducted between

February 12 to 22, 2001, and covered the

districts most affected by the earthquake.

These include Kutch, by far the most severely

damaged; and other seriously affected districts

such as Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Patan, Rajkot,

and Surendranagar.

Resources Details

Railways Damage to track between Viramgam to Gandhidam;

Gandhidham to Bhuj; Viramgam to Okha; and Palanpur to

Gandhidam. Heavy damage to various station buildings, station

cabins, bridges, residential quarters and signalling systems.

Rail links as far as Bhuj have been restored.

Roads 650 kilometres of national highways damaged, 100 kilometres

severely. National highways are now traffic-worthy.

Bridges Many minor and major bridges damaged including the

Syurajbari bridge at Bachau. Most main road bridges have

been repaired and are capable of accepting limited weight

traffic.

Ports Berths 1-5 at Kandla Port suffered major structural damage.

Telecommunications 147 exchanges, 82,000 lines and optical fibre systems

damaged. All exchanges and at least 40,000 lines have been

restored.

Power 45 sub-stations and power supply to 50% of feeders in Kutch

damaged. Power supply to nine towns & 925 villages affected.

All substations and 225 feeders have been restored and

there is now power to all villages in Kutch.

Water Water supply to 18 towns and 1340 villages damaged or

destroyed. Piped water restored to 9 towns and 480 villages.

Tube wells are gradually being restored.

Fuel Jamnager refinery shutdown 26 January by power failure.

Crude oil and product pipelines were shut down for checking.

Crude oil pipeline for one day, product pipelines for nine days.

Availability of product not affected as alternative

arrangements have been made.

Schools Kutch District had 1359 primary schools with 5168

schoolrooms. Of these, 992 schools and 4179 classrooms were

destroyed. There were 38 secondary schools of which six

were destroyed, 14 suffered heavy damage and 12 were

partially damaged. Of 128 non-government schools, nine were

destroyed, 11 suffered heavy damage and 99 were partially

damaged.