Chapter 14: When the Earth Shook!
जब धरती काँपी (कच्छ/भुज भूकंप 26 जनवरी 2001 एवं आपदा प्रबंधन)
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- Kutch / Bhuj Earthquake: A devastating earthquake struck the Kutch and Bhuj regions of Gujarat on 26th January 2001 (Republic Day).
- Earthquake safety protocol: If inside a building during an earthquake, drop to the floor and take cover under a sturdy table, holding on tight until shaking ceases. If outside, move to open grounds away from buildings, electric poles, and trees.
- Traditional earthquake-resilient architecture: Villages in Kutch rebuild houses using clay mud mixed with cow dung and straw, forming circular huts (Bhunga) that flex with tremors without collapsing.
- Trap: CBSE states the Gujarat earthquake occurred on 15 August 1947. Correct: The Kutch/Bhuj earthquake struck on 26 January 2001 (Republic Day).
- Trap: CBSE advises running toward tall walls during tremors. Correct: Move to open ground or take cover under a sturdy table.
NCERT Core Facts: Earthquakes, Kutch 2001 & Survival Protocols
Chapter 14 recounts the real-life experience of young Jasma from Jhanjhar village in Kutch when an earthquake struck Gujarat on 26th January 2001.
1. The Gujarat Earthquake (26th January 2001)
- Date & Context: On 26th January 2001, while children and village elders were gathered on the school ground watching the Republic Day flag parade on TV, the ground suddenly vibrated violently.
- Damage: Buildings crumbled, stone walls collapsed, and thousands of people and livestock were injured in Ahmedabad, Bhuj, and Kutch.
2. Earthquake Safety Rules (What to Do When Shaking Starts)
- 1.If possible, run out of the building into wide open ground.
- 2.If trapped indoors and unable to run out:
- Lie down on the floor and take cover under a strong piece of furniture like a heavy wooden table.
- Hold on firmly to the legs of the table so it does not slip away.
- Do not exit until the shaking has completely stopped.
- 1.If outdoors: Keep away from multi-story buildings, overhead high-voltage electric wires, and tall trees.
Test Your Mastery: When the Earth Shook!
Authentic CBSE exam questions tested directly from this NCERT chapter.
If an earthquake occurs while you are inside a classroom or home, what is the best immediate safety action to take as per NCERT?
यदि आप घर या कक्षा के भीतर हैं और भूकंप आ जाए, तो तुरंत सुरक्षा के लिए क्या करना चाहिए?
On which historic date did a devastating earthquake strike Kutch and Bhuj in Gujarat as featured in NCERT Class 5 EVS?
NCERT कक्षा 5 EVS में वर्णित गुजरात के कच्छ और भुज में विनाशकारी भूकंप किस ऐतिहासिक तिथि को आया था?
Traditional cylindrical houses with conical thatch roofs built in Kutch that resist earthquake tremors are known as:
कच्छ में भूकंप के झटकों का सामना करने वाले पारंपरिक बेलनाकार मिट्टी के घरों को किस नाम से जाना जाता है?
On which date did the catastrophic earthquake strike the Kutch region in Gujarat?
According to NCERT Class 5 EVS Chapter 14, the massive earthquake in Kutch and Bhuj (Gujarat) occurred on 26th January 2001 (Republic Day).