The incident happened on 26 January 2001. Republic Day parade of children of 20 schools was taking place in Anjar city of Kutch in Gujarat. Children wearing uniforms, carrying tricolor flags in their hands, were moving forward with slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Teachers were instructing everyone to walk in line. Children and teachers of 18 schools and 2 girls schools of the municipality, i.e. a total of 20 schools, were part of this parade. The rally was to go to the Town Hall. The parade had just reached Khatri Chowk with narrow roads when at 8.40 in the morning the earth trembled. There were two-three storey buildings nearby. Before the children and teachers could understand anything, one building after another collapsed on them. 185 children and 20 teachers died in this terrible disaster. Only a few students and teachers present in the parade were able to survive, with whom Bhaskar’s team talked. Here are the highlights of the conversation with him… Three-four people cut the slab and took it out: Mittal Thakkar After Ketanbhai, we met Mittal Thakkar, a student who participated in the parade. She was also a victim of this disaster. Mittal was a sixth grade student at School No. 4 in Anjar at the time of the earthquake. She says that the parade had just started when the earthquake struck. When the earthquake struck, we were in Khatri Chowk area of Anjar, which was the worst affected area in that earthquake. At that time the houses there started collapsing like a house of cards in a moment. No one even got a chance to escape. In less than a minute after the earthquake started, I too was buried under the debris. I became unconscious for some time. When I regained consciousness, I came to know that I was buried under the slab of a two-storey house. People were passing over us in handcarts. Mittal tells about her rescue – While removing the debris, someone saw my T-shirt. After this, two-three people removed the slab lying on me and took me out. There was a child buried next to me, but he was dead. Both of my friends died. Remembering her friends, Mittal says – Like always, we left the house together for the rally. We were walking together holding each other’s hands from the beginning. We were buried together under the debris. After the rescue, I came to know that both my close friends Shivani and Priyanka had died. When I was taken out, one of my legs was fractured. The rescue team made me sit aside. After some time, my father reached there looking for me. As soon as I saw them I called out loudly. Even today I shudder remembering that scene. Nothing was visible in the dust of the debris: Jethalal Thakkar Mittal’s father Jethalal Thakkar is also an eyewitness to that disaster. Jethalal was the principal of Anjar’s school number 6 at that time. Jethalal tells that every year the Republic Day parade used to start from Savarchand Naka, pass through the market and reach the Town Hall. After the parade, there was a flag hoisting in the Town Hall. Children from all the schools had gathered at the block. Every child had a flag in his hand. The children were made to stand in a row of three. The teacher, two policemen and children were moving forward as per the fixed route. But before the children could reach the main road, the earthquake destroyed everything. They say – Buildings were falling one after the other and so much dust was flying from their debris that nothing nearby could be seen. After some time, when the dust settled, a little was visible. Then I came to know that the children participating in the rally were buried under the debris of the buildings. My daughter was also in the same rally. My mind became completely numb for some time. I couldn’t understand where to go or what to do. Everywhere you looked, there were piles of debris and heart-wrenching scenes. They say that the debris was so spread that even the road was not visible. Many people were seen trapped, but the debris could not be removed without any equipment. In the initial days, there was neither electricity nor any communication facility so that complete information could be obtained. The rally started 45 minutes late, due to which the loss of life and property increased. Bhaskar talked to Vishrambhai Makwana, a teacher who was a part of this rally and was buried under the debris for four hours. Vishrambhai has been a teacher in School No. 17 of Anjar for the last 36 years. He says- I have been in this school since 1991. Like every year, on 26 January 2001, a rally was taken out to the Town Hall and a flag hoisting program was organized there. This rally is about 1.5 to 2 kilometers long. This rally was to start at 7:30 in the morning, but the rally could take place till 8:15 that day. If the rally had left on time, it would have reached the open space of the designated place and there would not have been such a huge loss of life. Vishrambhai tells that three teachers from his school, himself, Kasam Saheb, Girishbhai Chavda and 15 to 20 children participated in the rally. Vishrambhai says- Before the earthquake, a large part of the rally had passed through Khatri Chowk. The last children were buried under the falling houses. At that time the streets of the market were so narrow that it was difficult for a big vehicle to pass through. The circumstances were such that no one got a chance to run or escape. We three-four teachers were walking along. A teacher was just 8-10 feet away from me, he also got buried there. I was also completely buried under the debris. The dead body of a clerk was lying above me. Another local resident was also buried near me. From 8.45 am to 1:30 pm I remained buried under the debris. One escaped teacher spread the news here and there, then some people came and took me out. Recalling the situation buried under the debris, Vishrambhai says- Rafiqbhai of School No. 2 was also buried near me. Rafiqbhai’s hand had come near my nose. I told him – remove your hands, I am having trouble breathing. But the circumstances were such that he was not able to move his hands. But, both of us were taken out alive together. Remained buried under debris for four days: Ketan Rathod After this we met Ketan Rathod. He is an electrician by profession. In the year 2001, he was a student of seventh grade in School No. 14 of Anjar. Ketan did not attend the rally as the rally was scheduled to pass in front of his house. They had thought that when the rally passed by the house, they would join it. Then his house collapsed in the earthquake and he was buried under the debris. They were taken out safely after four days. Even today Ketan has not been able to forget his school and his lost classmates. Ketan says- I used to go to school every day with my two friends. Everyone knows what happened in the earthquake. Even today, when January 26 comes, I remember everything… and also that I myself was buried under the debris. He says- I was playing. Meanwhile grandmother called me. I was coming down from upstairs when an earthquake occurred and our house collapsed. Both I and my grandmother got buried under the debris. I was pressed down and my grandmother came over my chest. My grandmother died there, but I was breathing. Wherever he looked, there was only debris everywhere. I didn’t have the courage to move or go out. Buried inside the debris, I could also hear the sounds of people outside and the running of JCB machines. Ketan further explains- I remained buried under the debris for about 4 days. An army soldier took me out. I regained consciousness five-six hours after being taken out. After this, I was taken by helicopter to Bhuj for treatment. Ketan says- Every year, as soon as 26th January comes, that scene appears in front of our eyes. My grandmother died in front of my eyes and I could not do anything. —————— Also read these news related to Kutch earthquake… City built in Bhuj in the name of collector, story of 6 people who built Kutch from the debris. On January 26, 2001, there was a massive earthquake in Bhuj district of Gujarat. Its intensity was 7.7 on the Richter scale. Earthquake tremors were felt up to a distance of about 700 kilometers. More than 12,000 people lost their lives in Kutch and Bhuj city and about 6 lakh people were rendered homeless. Read the full news… Son born amidst devastation, named Earthquake; A child came out alive from the debris after 3 days. It was the morning of 26 January 2001. The clock struck 8.40 when a devastating earthquake struck Kutch, Gujarat. At the same time, Asghar Ali Lakdawala was sitting outside his house in Vohra Colony of Anjar Taluka. They ran outside as soon as the earthquake struck. Read the full news..
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कच्छ में हुई थी 185 बच्चों, 20 टीचर्स की मौत: गणतंत्र दिवस की परेड निकाल रहे थे, तभी उन पर ढह गईं इमारतें
