How Modi helped to restore!

In 2001, Gujarat faced a tremendous earthquake in Kutch also known as Bhuj earthquake. It was 26 January 2001 and India was celebrating 52nd Independence day. The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat, India. The intraplate earthquake measured 7.7 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum felt intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. The earthquake killed between 13,805 and 20,023 people (including 18 in southeastern Pakistan), injured another 167,000 and destroyed nearly 340,000 buildings.

On Sunday 28th August 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Smriti Van memorial, which honours the resilience of citizens during the catastrophic 2001 earthquake in Gujarat’s Kutch region. The memorial, which spans nearly 470 acres, was built to honour the spirit of resilience in the aftermath of the 2001 earthquake, which killed 13,000 people in Bhuj. The names of those who died in the earthquake are inscribed on the memorial. It also has a cutting-edge Smriti Van Earthquake Museum.

The museum displays Gujarat’s topographic features, redeveloping projects, and positive stories following the 2001 earthquake, as well as information about various types of natural calamities and future preparedness for any type of disaster. It also has a block where people can relive the experience of an earthquake using a 5D simulator and another where they can pay tribute to the unfortunate souls.

The Kutch district as seen today is an example of rehabilitation after a natural calamity. As PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the memorial, the Twitter handle Modi Story shared a video in which those who witnessed this rehabilitation shared their memories about Narendra Modi’s dedication to uplifting the earthquake-hit Kutch.