NCERT Textbook: When the Earth Shook | EVS Class 5 PDF Download

 Page 1


A bad dream
Help! Help! Save me! Aaahhh! Ooooww… There was screaming
and shouting everywhere. The ground was shaking and people
were running all around.
Screaming loudly I got up. On hearing me my mother also
woke up. She came running and held me tight. It was the
same bad dream! It has been more than six years now since
the earthquake. But in my sleep I still feel the earth shaking
and trembling.
I am Jasma. I live in the Kutch area of Gujarat. I was eleven
years old when there was an earthquake.
It was 26 January, 2001. Everyone from the village – children
and old people – had gathered in the ground of the school to
watch the parade on TV. Suddenly the ground was shaking.
People were scared and started running here and there. No
one knew what was happening and what to do. There was
total panic!
Teacher’s Note : Talking to children about the earthquake in Bhuj would help
them understand the context. The effects of an earthquake can also be discussed.
14. When the Earth Shook!
131 131 131 131 131
2024-25
Page 2


A bad dream
Help! Help! Save me! Aaahhh! Ooooww… There was screaming
and shouting everywhere. The ground was shaking and people
were running all around.
Screaming loudly I got up. On hearing me my mother also
woke up. She came running and held me tight. It was the
same bad dream! It has been more than six years now since
the earthquake. But in my sleep I still feel the earth shaking
and trembling.
I am Jasma. I live in the Kutch area of Gujarat. I was eleven
years old when there was an earthquake.
It was 26 January, 2001. Everyone from the village – children
and old people – had gathered in the ground of the school to
watch the parade on TV. Suddenly the ground was shaking.
People were scared and started running here and there. No
one knew what was happening and what to do. There was
total panic!
Teacher’s Note : Talking to children about the earthquake in Bhuj would help
them understand the context. The effects of an earthquake can also be discussed.
14. When the Earth Shook!
131 131 131 131 131
2024-25
132 Looking Around
In a few minutes, our village was flat on the ground. All
our things–clothes, pots, grains and food – were trapped
under the stones, mud and wood from the fallen houses. At
that time everyone thought of two things – to save the people
who were trapped and to treat the injured. The village
hospital was also damaged. Many people
were seriously injured. My leg also got
fractured. The doctor treated
people with the help of the
villagers.
Six people of our
village died. My
grandfather (Nana)
was also buried under
the houses. My mother
wept all the time. Seeing
my mother, I also cried. The entire village was sad and
disturbed.
House of Motabapu who is the sarpanch of our village
was not much damaged. He gave rice and wheat to everyone
from his godown. For many days, the village women cooked
food together at Motabapu’s house and fed everyone.
Imagine, being without a house in the cold winter! Fear
and the cold kept us awake in the nights. All the time we
were worried that there may be another earthquake.
Discuss and write
w Have you or anyone that you know ever faced such
difficulty?
w Who all helped at such a time? Make a list.
2024-25
Page 3


A bad dream
Help! Help! Save me! Aaahhh! Ooooww… There was screaming
and shouting everywhere. The ground was shaking and people
were running all around.
Screaming loudly I got up. On hearing me my mother also
woke up. She came running and held me tight. It was the
same bad dream! It has been more than six years now since
the earthquake. But in my sleep I still feel the earth shaking
and trembling.
I am Jasma. I live in the Kutch area of Gujarat. I was eleven
years old when there was an earthquake.
It was 26 January, 2001. Everyone from the village – children
and old people – had gathered in the ground of the school to
watch the parade on TV. Suddenly the ground was shaking.
People were scared and started running here and there. No
one knew what was happening and what to do. There was
total panic!
Teacher’s Note : Talking to children about the earthquake in Bhuj would help
them understand the context. The effects of an earthquake can also be discussed.
14. When the Earth Shook!
131 131 131 131 131
2024-25
132 Looking Around
In a few minutes, our village was flat on the ground. All
our things–clothes, pots, grains and food – were trapped
under the stones, mud and wood from the fallen houses. At
that time everyone thought of two things – to save the people
who were trapped and to treat the injured. The village
hospital was also damaged. Many people
were seriously injured. My leg also got
fractured. The doctor treated
people with the help of the
villagers.
Six people of our
village died. My
grandfather (Nana)
was also buried under
the houses. My mother
wept all the time. Seeing
my mother, I also cried. The entire village was sad and
disturbed.
House of Motabapu who is the sarpanch of our village
was not much damaged. He gave rice and wheat to everyone
from his godown. For many days, the village women cooked
food together at Motabapu’s house and fed everyone.
Imagine, being without a house in the cold winter! Fear
and the cold kept us awake in the nights. All the time we
were worried that there may be another earthquake.
Discuss and write
w Have you or anyone that you know ever faced such
difficulty?
w Who all helped at such a time? Make a list.
2024-25
When the Earth Shook! 133
Teacher's Note : Talk to the children about government agencies and voluntary
groups. For this, examples from their own area can be taken. A discussion can
also be held on the kind of work engineers and architects do.
Help arrives
For some days after that, people from the cities kept coming to
see what had happened. They came with food, medicines and
clothes. Everyone used to rush to take these things. The
clothes that we got were very different. We had
never worn such clothes before.
People from different groups from
the city, helped us to put up the tents.
Staying in these plastic tents in the
cold winter months was very
difficult.
Some of these people were
scientists. They tried to find out which areas have more
chances of having an earthquake.
People from our village talked to them
many times. They had suggestions
about building our houses again.
Engineers and architects showed us
some special designs for houses. They
said that with this design, houses would not get damaged
much in an earthquake. But our people were a little afraid.
They thought if these people build our houses, our village
will not look like our old village. So, the villagers thought
they would build their own houses with their help. The
groups would build the village school.
We all worked together to rebuild our village. Some people
dug and brought the clay from the pond. We mixed the clay
with cow dung and made large cakes. We put these on one
another to make the walls. We whitewashed the walls and
decorated them with beautiful designs and small pieces of
2024-25
Page 4


A bad dream
Help! Help! Save me! Aaahhh! Ooooww… There was screaming
and shouting everywhere. The ground was shaking and people
were running all around.
Screaming loudly I got up. On hearing me my mother also
woke up. She came running and held me tight. It was the
same bad dream! It has been more than six years now since
the earthquake. But in my sleep I still feel the earth shaking
and trembling.
I am Jasma. I live in the Kutch area of Gujarat. I was eleven
years old when there was an earthquake.
It was 26 January, 2001. Everyone from the village – children
and old people – had gathered in the ground of the school to
watch the parade on TV. Suddenly the ground was shaking.
People were scared and started running here and there. No
one knew what was happening and what to do. There was
total panic!
Teacher’s Note : Talking to children about the earthquake in Bhuj would help
them understand the context. The effects of an earthquake can also be discussed.
14. When the Earth Shook!
131 131 131 131 131
2024-25
132 Looking Around
In a few minutes, our village was flat on the ground. All
our things–clothes, pots, grains and food – were trapped
under the stones, mud and wood from the fallen houses. At
that time everyone thought of two things – to save the people
who were trapped and to treat the injured. The village
hospital was also damaged. Many people
were seriously injured. My leg also got
fractured. The doctor treated
people with the help of the
villagers.
Six people of our
village died. My
grandfather (Nana)
was also buried under
the houses. My mother
wept all the time. Seeing
my mother, I also cried. The entire village was sad and
disturbed.
House of Motabapu who is the sarpanch of our village
was not much damaged. He gave rice and wheat to everyone
from his godown. For many days, the village women cooked
food together at Motabapu’s house and fed everyone.
Imagine, being without a house in the cold winter! Fear
and the cold kept us awake in the nights. All the time we
were worried that there may be another earthquake.
Discuss and write
w Have you or anyone that you know ever faced such
difficulty?
w Who all helped at such a time? Make a list.
2024-25
When the Earth Shook! 133
Teacher's Note : Talk to the children about government agencies and voluntary
groups. For this, examples from their own area can be taken. A discussion can
also be held on the kind of work engineers and architects do.
Help arrives
For some days after that, people from the cities kept coming to
see what had happened. They came with food, medicines and
clothes. Everyone used to rush to take these things. The
clothes that we got were very different. We had
never worn such clothes before.
People from different groups from
the city, helped us to put up the tents.
Staying in these plastic tents in the
cold winter months was very
difficult.
Some of these people were
scientists. They tried to find out which areas have more
chances of having an earthquake.
People from our village talked to them
many times. They had suggestions
about building our houses again.
Engineers and architects showed us
some special designs for houses. They
said that with this design, houses would not get damaged
much in an earthquake. But our people were a little afraid.
They thought if these people build our houses, our village
will not look like our old village. So, the villagers thought
they would build their own houses with their help. The
groups would build the village school.
We all worked together to rebuild our village. Some people
dug and brought the clay from the pond. We mixed the clay
with cow dung and made large cakes. We put these on one
another to make the walls. We whitewashed the walls and
decorated them with beautiful designs and small pieces of
2024-25
134 Looking Around
What will you do?
People from the groups also made children in Jasma’s school practice
what they should do in case there is an earthquake. This is what
they said:
- If possible leave the house and go to an open ground.
Teacher's Note : Talk to the children about what all can be done if there is a
warning about such disasters.
mirrors. We put up the thatched roof. Now our house shines like
a diamond in the dark night!
Write
w Compare your house with that of Jasma. List in your
notebook what materials were used in making both the
houses.
Discuss
w A lot of people from other places came to Jasma’s village.
Who were these people? In what ways would they have
helped the villagers?
w People in Jasma’s village rebuilt their houses with
suggestions from the engineers. Will these houses be safer
than before in case there is an earthquake again? Why?
w Think, if there were an earthquake where you live, would
your house be in danger?
w What will you do to save pet animals during natural disaster?
Jasma’s House Your House
2024-25
Page 5


A bad dream
Help! Help! Save me! Aaahhh! Ooooww… There was screaming
and shouting everywhere. The ground was shaking and people
were running all around.
Screaming loudly I got up. On hearing me my mother also
woke up. She came running and held me tight. It was the
same bad dream! It has been more than six years now since
the earthquake. But in my sleep I still feel the earth shaking
and trembling.
I am Jasma. I live in the Kutch area of Gujarat. I was eleven
years old when there was an earthquake.
It was 26 January, 2001. Everyone from the village – children
and old people – had gathered in the ground of the school to
watch the parade on TV. Suddenly the ground was shaking.
People were scared and started running here and there. No
one knew what was happening and what to do. There was
total panic!
Teacher’s Note : Talking to children about the earthquake in Bhuj would help
them understand the context. The effects of an earthquake can also be discussed.
14. When the Earth Shook!
131 131 131 131 131
2024-25
132 Looking Around
In a few minutes, our village was flat on the ground. All
our things–clothes, pots, grains and food – were trapped
under the stones, mud and wood from the fallen houses. At
that time everyone thought of two things – to save the people
who were trapped and to treat the injured. The village
hospital was also damaged. Many people
were seriously injured. My leg also got
fractured. The doctor treated
people with the help of the
villagers.
Six people of our
village died. My
grandfather (Nana)
was also buried under
the houses. My mother
wept all the time. Seeing
my mother, I also cried. The entire village was sad and
disturbed.
House of Motabapu who is the sarpanch of our village
was not much damaged. He gave rice and wheat to everyone
from his godown. For many days, the village women cooked
food together at Motabapu’s house and fed everyone.
Imagine, being without a house in the cold winter! Fear
and the cold kept us awake in the nights. All the time we
were worried that there may be another earthquake.
Discuss and write
w Have you or anyone that you know ever faced such
difficulty?
w Who all helped at such a time? Make a list.
2024-25
When the Earth Shook! 133
Teacher's Note : Talk to the children about government agencies and voluntary
groups. For this, examples from their own area can be taken. A discussion can
also be held on the kind of work engineers and architects do.
Help arrives
For some days after that, people from the cities kept coming to
see what had happened. They came with food, medicines and
clothes. Everyone used to rush to take these things. The
clothes that we got were very different. We had
never worn such clothes before.
People from different groups from
the city, helped us to put up the tents.
Staying in these plastic tents in the
cold winter months was very
difficult.
Some of these people were
scientists. They tried to find out which areas have more
chances of having an earthquake.
People from our village talked to them
many times. They had suggestions
about building our houses again.
Engineers and architects showed us
some special designs for houses. They
said that with this design, houses would not get damaged
much in an earthquake. But our people were a little afraid.
They thought if these people build our houses, our village
will not look like our old village. So, the villagers thought
they would build their own houses with their help. The
groups would build the village school.
We all worked together to rebuild our village. Some people
dug and brought the clay from the pond. We mixed the clay
with cow dung and made large cakes. We put these on one
another to make the walls. We whitewashed the walls and
decorated them with beautiful designs and small pieces of
2024-25
134 Looking Around
What will you do?
People from the groups also made children in Jasma’s school practice
what they should do in case there is an earthquake. This is what
they said:
- If possible leave the house and go to an open ground.
Teacher's Note : Talk to the children about what all can be done if there is a
warning about such disasters.
mirrors. We put up the thatched roof. Now our house shines like
a diamond in the dark night!
Write
w Compare your house with that of Jasma. List in your
notebook what materials were used in making both the
houses.
Discuss
w A lot of people from other places came to Jasma’s village.
Who were these people? In what ways would they have
helped the villagers?
w People in Jasma’s village rebuilt their houses with
suggestions from the engineers. Will these houses be safer
than before in case there is an earthquake again? Why?
w Think, if there were an earthquake where you live, would
your house be in danger?
w What will you do to save pet animals during natural disaster?
Jasma’s House Your House
2024-25
When the Earth Shook! 135
- If you cannot go out of the house, lie down
under a strong thing like a table and hold on
tightly, so that it does not slip away. Wait until
the shaking stops.
w Have you been told in your school or anywhere
else about what to do in case of an earthquake?
w Why do you think one should go under a table
during an earthquake?
Who helped?
Read this TV report on the Bhuj earthquake.
Ahmedabad, January 26, 2001
At least a thousand people are feared
dead in the earthquake that struck
Gujarat this morning. Many thousands
have been injured. Army jawans have
been called in to help.
At least a hundred and fifty buildings
have fallen in the city of Ahmedabad. In
these, there are a dozen multi-storeyed
buildings. By this evening, around 250
bodies have been removed from these
buildings. It is feared that several
thousand people may still be trapped.
Rescue efforts are on. There is perhaps
no building in the city which has not
developed cracks.
The situation in Bhuj is even worse.
People are running around in shock and
panic. Within an hour of the earthquake
the fire engines had reached and started
work along with the local people. Offers
to help are coming from all corners of the
country and abroad.
Come practice, what to
do in an earthquake
Sunil Jacab
Write
w According to the TV report, thousands of people were
injured and some died in Gujarat. If the buildings had
2024-25