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EARTHQUAKES IN CUTCH

A region of abnormally high seismicity in western India appears to be caused by local convergence across the Rann of Kachchh and possibly other rift zones of India. Cutch suffered a series of earthquakes during the last 12 centuries. Kutch is, therefore,classified as a seismically active zone-V (Bureau of Indian Standards IS-1893:1984).

 

Major Earthquakes Affecting Cutch

 

ANCIENT EARTHQUAKES

 

B.C. 325  Source of the earthquake could be in the Gulf of Kachchh; tsunami waves partly destroyed Alexander’s army anchored at the ancient mouth of the Indus River. Magnitude >Mw 7.

 

893 and May 1668 North West of Great Rann with serious effects on Cutch; Magnitude >Mw 7.

 

February 1705 Medieval town of Gogha near modern-day Bhavnagar was affected; Magnitude >Mw 6  No record of losses is available. 

 

Click on the dates to view details

                                                  

RECENT EARTHQUAKES

 

June 16, 1819 Bhuj, Anjar and Rann of Cutch. 1,543 deaths, Allahbund Dam created as a result; Magnitude >Mw 7

 

July 21, 1956 Anjar; Magnitude >Mw 6 

 

January 26, 2001 Bhuj 20,000 death; entire Bhuj and neighbouring suburbs and villages were totally destroyed; Magnitude >Mw 7 (More...)

 

April 14, 2012 Magnitude Mw 4.0  9.00 am

No serious damages were reported

 

July 19, 2013 Magnitude Mw 3.6 1.50 pm

No serious damages were reported.

PICTURES IN THE GALLERY

  1. Bhuj before 2011 earthquake

  2. Multistorey building reduced to heap of rubble, Bhuj 2001

  3. Major structures uprooted, Bhuj 2001

  4. Bhuj Palace and public buildings ruined in 2001

  5. Ruins of 1956 earthquake, Anjar

  6. Gujarat sites affected by various earthquakes

  7. Ruins of Brahmanabad, 983

  8. Modern Bhuj after rehabilitation 2011

  9. Bhuj houses during rehabilitation

 

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