Geotechnical aspects of Gujarat earthquake in India - 2001

This paper attempts to make a comprehensive coverage of geotechnical failures suffered during the Gujarat earthquake of January 2001 which recorded a magnitude of Mw 7.7 and devastated the western part of India causing huge social, economical, financial and physical loss. Many cases of liquefaction and ground movement were reported. Several multi-storeyed buildings in Ahmedabad city, 250 kin away from the epicenter founded on soft alluvium collapsed. Site amplification and resonance were considered the major cause for the failure. A unique feature of this earthquake was the damage suffered by many earthen embankment dam in Kutch area as a result of subsoil softening. Port facilities such as quay wall and sheet pile suffered lateral movement and tilt. Pile foundation supporting heavy berth failed and building in the region experienced tilt. Highway, Railway and bridge failures were reported.