2.5. Case Studies of Reconstruction Efforts

In the early 2000 like 2002 when the whole disaster has been struck in Gujarat earthquake. So Kutch is the district which has been majorly affected and that is one of the major 7.5 major earthquake and it has a huge vast devastation both at an urban level as well as the rural level. This is one of the layout of reconstructed villages, the map of the reconstructed villages in the Kutch district, which has been developed by the Gujarat disaster management project we call GSDMP. Gujarat state has actually taken a very active initiative of the community participation and as well as developing certain guidelines. The GSDMA regulatory aspects, the retrofitting process, so it has looked at providing them guidance in how to reconstruct and how to retrofit these buildings.

In 2002, Kutch, a district in Gujarat, faced a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5, affecting both urban and rural areas significantly. The Gujarat Disaster Management Project (GSDMP) mapped the reconstruction of affected villages, showing a structured recovery plan. The Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) initiated community involvement in the rebuilding process, providing necessary guidelines and support for retrofitting damaged buildings. This approach illustrates the importance of involving communities in disaster recovery efforts, ensuring that the rebuilt structures meet local needs and safety standards.

Think of it like a neighborhood coming together after a major storm that damaged many homes. Instead of relying solely on outside help, the families band together, share resources, and decide as a community how to rebuild their houses and public spaces. This ensures that what they build not only addresses immediate needs but is also more resilient for future storms.

You can see that the modern house which has RCC construction and which is a brick and concrete construction has completely damaged and this is a pucca house and which has completely damaged. Whereas, you can see these traditional shelter forms in local language they call also the Bhongas which is normally there in circular shape and in some cases they are in a kind of rectangular shape. These traditional shelter forms have resisted, these are some of immediate I am talking about within a span of one year, the evidences which you are seeing is that these houses with traditional shelter forms have resisted the earthquakes.

After the earthquake, many modern brick and concrete homes were severely damaged, while traditional houses known as 'Bhongas' were largely unaffected. Bhongas are typically circular or rectangular structures that are designed to withstand earthquakes more effectively. This resilience can be attributed to their shape, which distributes the forces of an earthquake evenly, reducing stress on any one point of the structure.

Imagine trying to push over two types of cups - a sturdy round one and a tall square one. The round cup, like the Bhonga, can better withstand the force applied from any direction, while the square cup is more likely to tip over. This analogy helps illustrate why the traditional circular homes were better suited to survive the seismic forces.

You can see that there is a wattle and daub constructions, it has you can see that these weeds the wattle has been embedded like a mesh, it acts like a reinforcement, is a binding element and then the cover with the mud and this is a circular shape because they believe that the circular shape is the best earthquake resisted form. This smaller circular shapes, they resist earthquakes and this wattle and daub which acts as the vertical and the horizontal bands and which can protect the houses from the severe earthquakes.

The construction technique used in Bhongas involves 'wattle and daub,' where a framework of woven sticks (wattle) is filled with a mixture of mud or clay (daub). This technique enhances the structural integrity of the house by adding both vertical and horizontal support. The circular shape of Bhongas further aids in resisting seismic activity, as it promotes even distribution of seismic forces throughout the structure.

Consider how a suspension bridge, which is designed to flex and move rather than crack, can withstand strong winds or earthquakes. Likewise, the flexible and light nature of the wattle and daub construction allows the Bhongas to absorb shocks without collapsing, making them more resilient than rigid structures.

This is one example it has been partly damaged to the old community hall of the village. It is very unsafe to live and the mosque which has been repaired. Because that is the religious entity where they feel so that is how they immediately retrofitted this and they immediately made a mosque here. Many buildings that served as community centers and religious locations were also affected by the earthquake, leading to quick actions to repair and retrofit them.

The earthquake not only destroyed homes but also severely damaged important community buildings such as the village's community hall and mosque. Recognizing the essential role these buildings play in community life, immediate efforts were made to repair and retrofit them to restore safety and functionality. This response highlights the significance of social infrastructure in disaster recovery, emphasizing the need for timely interventions to support community cohesion.

Think of a local café or community center that everyone uses. If it were to suddenly close for repairs after damage, it would create a gap in social interactions and support networks. By prioritizing quick repairs to such key locations, a community can ensure that connections remain strong and essential services continue as soon as possible, much like how the mosque was quickly repaired after the earthquake.

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