Gujarat Earthquake 2001 - The Relief Phase

AMURT and AMURTEL teams provided basic supplies, hope and solace to 93,655 earthquake survivors.


Rapid Response

In Gandhidham, 1200 students and 50 teachers from the Ananda Marga schools had gathered for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26th. Immediately after the earthquake hit they joined the AMURT volunteers and set up a relief camp in their school compound. The camp was operational within an hour and started providing shelter, cooked food, blankets, clothing and medical care to stunned survivors from the surrounding apartment blocks. We accommodated 220 families in the first few hours under tarpaulin and plastic sheets.

Hard-working Volunteers

At the peak of the relief effort we had 400 AMURT and AMURTEL volunteers working round the clock from three relief camps in Gandhidham, Bhuj and Anjar. Our volunteers provided tons of relief supplies as well as cooked food and medical care to 93, 655 earthquake survivors. One India newspaper reported: "Working round the clock since the past twelve days, AMURT workers shrug off the effort as performing one's duty."

Effective Distribution System

AMURT and AMURTEL survey teams would first assess the needs of earthquake survivors in villages areas. The next days we would return and distribute the needed supplies to each family or individual. In this way we were assured that everyone, including the elderly, the sick and the young, received the support they needed.

One day, the government relief coordinator at Anjar referred Ashok Sharma to AMURT's tent camp. He had 150 sets of household supplies donated by the Shree Somnath Trust. Within minutes AMURT staff had matched these supplies with 141 destroyed homes in Ajapar, a village we had surveyed a few days before. Sharma and the AMURT team immediately set out in jeeps and trucks for the 10 km drive and handed out the supplies.

Several organizations, including the Rotary Club, CARE India and Reliance Industries used AMURT and AMURTEL teams for distribution.

598 Bodies Cremated

One of the most difficult tasks in an earthquake is disposing of the dead bodies. But it is a critical part of avoiding the spread of disease. When bodies are found by the Indian Army, they call AMURT volunteers to dispose of them. This task is increasingly unpleasant as the bodies are bloated and decomposed. We take the Moslem dead to the burial ground and the Hindu dead to the cremation ground. We also perform the last rites, giving a respectful farewell to those who died a tragic death. The people of Sector 6 in Anjar were very grateful for this service from AMURT, saying that "angels have come" to help them.

The Reconstruction Phase

The Government of Gujarat has just allotted AMURT and AMURTEL the village of Satapar for reconstruction. Satapar is located near Anjar in Kutch District. We will construct almost 400 houses. We will provide more information on this project later.

	Appreciation letter  66KB    360KB

Navbharat Times

"Besides the general public, even army officers and [government officials] look to AMURT volunteers for the last rites of the dead bodies. So far AMURT volunteers have dug and disposed of 487 bodies. About 400 [AMURT and AMURTEL] volunteers arrived from different centers of India and are rendering relief services in three different camps."

Original Times of India article (115 KB)

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