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In Gujarat’s Bhuj, the first earthquake memorial in the country, Smriti Van, has been dedicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The identities of more than 12,000 victims of the terrible earthquake that devastated this area in January 2001 are listed on the Smriti Van, a singular monument.
The 470 acres of land that make up this innovative memorial are situated atop Bhujiyo hill. Visitors can realistically experience earthquake vibrations thanks to the earthquake simulator. Bhupendra Patel, the chief minister of Gujarat, and C. R. Patil, the state’s BJP president, attended the event.
A road show in Bhuj featured a rousing welcome for the Prime Minister. In Kutch, Mr Modi will inaugurate and set the groundwork for several development initiatives. He will serve as the chief guest at a celebration honouring Maruti Suzuki’s 40 years in the nation in the evening at Gandhinagar’s Mahatma Mandir.
Key Takeaways
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) observed in its report that in Kutch, tents that served as makeshift health centres were put up days following the earthquake.
- To give medical assistance and keep track of illnesses, a public health lab was established in Bhuj.
- The WHO stated that using a GIS-based surveillance system as an early warning system to stop epidemics quickly followed this.
- The Gujarat government rebuilt the Kutch District Hospital, GK General Hospital, devastated by the powerful tremors using base isolation techniques, making it earthquake-resistant.
- According to the study, Narendra Modi, Gujarat’s chief minister, promised to reconstruct and restore damaged areas to achieve the long-term goals of sustainable disaster-resilient growth. “Considering the risk reduction actions in the rescue operations from the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, Gujarat has a heritage and legacy of resilience.
Smriti Van Earthquake Museum
The museum shows Gujarat’s geography, rebuilding efforts, and success stories following the earthquake in 2001, and informs visitors about all types of catastrophes and future disaster readiness. Additionally, it contains a block where users can use a 5D simulator to relive an earthquake and another block where they can honour the memory of the deceased. This project’s special theatre, where guests may experience an earthquake via vibration and sound effects, is one of its main draws. The earthquakes, which had their epicentre at Chobari hamlet of Bhachau taluka, approximately 20 km from Bhuj town, killed many people from the Kutch district, particularly from Bhuj.
About the Memorial's Features
It is 470 acres in size and features a museum showing Gujarat’s topography, recovery efforts, and triumphs following the earthquake in 2001. The museum also educates visitors about various catastrophes and future disaster preparedness. It contains a block where users can use a 5D simulator to relive an earthquake and another block where they can honour the memory of the deceased.
Another major draw is a unique theatre where guests can witness an earthquake through vibration and sound effects. The museum, which spans eight blocks and 11,500 square metres, will exhibit the Harappan civilisation of this area, earthquake science, Gujarati culture, cyclone science, and Kutch’s recovery from the earthquake. The museum offers guests virtual reality equipment, interactive projections, a hologram, and 50 audio-visual models. Additional attractions include:
- Fifty check dams
- A sun point
- Eight kilometres of walkways
- 1.2 kilometres of internal roads
- A one-megawatt solar plant
- A parking area for 3,000 guests
Modi was in Gujarat for two days, where the Assembly elections are scheduled for later this year. He attended the Khadi Utsav celebration in Ahmedabad on the first day. He also opened the 300-metre-long “Atal Bridge” that spans the Sabarmati River for bikes and pedestrians.
Museum Narrates Gujarat's History
According to a government announcement, the museum, which spans eight blocks and 11,500 square metres, will highlight the region’s Harappan civilisation, scientific knowledge about earthquakes, Gujarati culture, scientific knowledge regarding cyclones, and Kutch’s major success following the earthquake. The museum offers guests virtual reality equipment, interactive projections, a hologram, and 50 audio-visual models. The Bhujiyo Hill served as a military outpost for previous Kutch region emperors, and a 300-year-old fort was renovated and repaired as part of this operation.
The Miyawaki method was also used to plant nearly three lakh trees on the hill. In addition, there are 50 check dams, a sun point, eight kilometres of walkways, 1.2 kilometres of internal roads, a 1 MW solar plant, and parking for more than 3,000 tourists. On the walls of the check dams, 12,932 people’s names have been inscribed as a mark of respect for those who perished in the earthquake.
PM’s visit to Gujarat
On Sunday, Prime Minister Modi, who is in Gujarat for a two-day visit, officially opened the project’s first phase, which covers 170 acres of the hill. Following the dedication, Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had a trip through the museum’s grounds, where staff members and tour guides gave him information on the exhibits. Notably, according to earlier reports, PM Modi had the idea to create such a memorial while he was Gujarat’s chief minister. The museum shows Gujarat’s geography, rebuilding efforts and success stories following the earthquake in 2001, and informs visitors about all types of catastrophes and future disaster readiness.
On his route to the “Smriti Van,” PM Modi did a three-kilometre-long tour in Bhuj town between Hill Garden Circle and District Industries Centre. On both sides of the road, thousands of residents of Bhuj and its surroundings congregated. The jubilant mob continued to chant “Modi Modi” and wave the tricolour in support of the PM, who waved back while standing in his car. He exited the vehicle and approached the crowd on foot for a moment. The prime minister will also dedicate several projects on the day, including a milk processing facility for Sarhad Dairy and a memorial to children killed in the 2001 earthquake called “Veer Balak.”
Gujarat Earthquake of 2001
India had one of the worst earthquakes on January 26, 2001. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Gujarat’s Kutch area upended the lives of almost 3.78 million people. The earthquake caused tens of thousands of deaths and around 1.5 lakh injuries. A path of destruction was left in their wake as the strong tremors destroyed homes, roads, and buildings and disrupted communication because of how powerful the earthquake was; its tremors were felt for several days.
