Behaviour of Building, Bridges, Dams and Ports During Bhuj Earthquake of January 26, 2001
Behaviour of Building, Bridges, Dams and Ports During Bhuj Earthquake of January 26, 2001
A massive earthquake of magnitude (ML = 6.9 on Richter scale, mb =7.0, MS = 7.6 and MW = 7.7) occurred near
Bhachau, Gujrarat on the morning of 51st Republic day of India (January 26, 2001, Friday) at 08:46:42.9 hours
(IST). A number of infrastructures facilities such as building, bridges, dams and ports were damaged. A summary
of damages and lesson learnt that occurred due to this earthquake are reported here.
(a) Soft storey failures in Apollo Apartment at (b) Nilima Park Apartment, Ahmedabad, large
Ahmedabad, ground floor was completely scale damage in the upper floors due to floating
collapsed columns construction
(c) Collapse of half portion of A-block of Mansi (d) Anand building, Bhuj, damage resulting from
Complex, Ahmedabad due to presence of a pounding
massive swimming pool on roof
The bridges both on the highway and railway have suffered damages due to Bhuj earthquake. Old Surajbari bridge
more than 30 year old, 2 lane highway bridge near Bhuj that sustained significant damage. A New Surajbari two lane
highway bridge close to the existing bridge was under construction also suffered damage to its elastomeric bearings
and upstands. The Machhu bridge consisting of three spans of 27.6 m also suffered damage. It is a balanced cantilever
bridge resting on low height piers. The approach to the bridge has developed cracks. The seven span Railway bridge at
Bhachau sustained minor damage. It was a steel girder bridge having simply supported spans resting on about 4m high
RC piers. The damage to bridge piers and its approaches were repaired and bridge was being used after the earthquake.
Road bridge at Bhachau, is a multi-span simply supported bridge on low height piers under construction. The bridge
pier cap got cracked with wide separation from the bearing blocks and tilting of pier in the end span. The damage also
occurred to abutment and approaches. Figure 2 shows some typical example of damages in bridges in Bhuj earthquake,
2001
(a) Old Surajbari bridge (damage to bearings, (b) Railway bridge near Bhachau, minor
approaches, pounding of superstructure) damage to bridge piers and approaches
(c) Multi-span Road bridge on low height (d) Multi-span Road bridge on low height
pier near Bhachau, bridge under pier near Bhachau under construction
construction (cracking of piers, separation (severe damage to approach)
from bearing blocks)
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ISET Golden Jubilee Symposium, October 20-21, 2012
(e) Rudramata bridge is functional without any (f) Rudramata bridge, Bhuj (cracking of road
repair and settlement of approach road)
Figure 2: Typical example of damages in highway and railway bridges in Bhuj earthquake, 2001
(a) Rudramata Irrigation Scheme: River Khari, (b) Head regulator badly damaged, Rudramata
village - Nokharia Irrigation Scheme
(c ) A wide crack (4 to 5 inches) on crest of (d) Head regulator damaged, Kayala dam
Kayala dam along the length
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ISET Golden Jubilee Symposium, October 20-21, 2012
(e) U/s slope failure- cracks along the length of (f) Head regulator and u/s slope failure of Nirona
Niaona dam dam
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ISET Golden Jubilee Symposium, October 20-21, 2012
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