When the Earth Shook! Class 5 Notes EVS Chapter 14

Introduction

A Bad Dream

• Jasma had a scary dream that reminded her of a terrible earthquake that hit her village in Gujarat six years ago. She was just eleven at the time. 
• It was 26 January 2001. All the people from Jasma’s village had gathered on the school ground to watch the parade on TV. Suddenly the ground was shaking as there was a huge earthquake. Everybody was in a panic and started running.

• All the houses in the village were fallen to the ground within minutes and villagers lost all their belongings, several people were also buried under the debris. At that time the people were focused on two main things – to rescue the people who were trapped in the debris and to treat the injured.
• The hospital of the village was also damaged. Several people were seriously injured while six people from Jasma’s village lost their lives including her grandfather (Nana).
• The sarpanch’s house was not much damaged. He gave rice and wheat to everyone from his godown and women cooked food at his home and fed everyone.

Help Arrives

• People from different cities kept visiting the place for some time after the earthquake. They used to come with food, clothes, and medicine for the people. People from different groups from cities helped the villagers to set up the tents.

• Some people were scientists also. They tried to identify the areas which were highly prone to earthquakes. They suggested to the people how to build earthquake-proof homes. Engineers and architects showed special designs for the houses.

• The villagers worked together to rebuild their houses again. They used clay, cow dung, lime, and pieces of mirror to rebuild their houses.  They gathered clay, mixed it with cow dung to make walls, and decorated them.

What Will You Do

People from the groups also made the children in Jasma’s school practice what they should do in case there is an earthquake.

• If possible leave the house and go to open ground.
• 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.

Who Helped?

• Local people of the village helped each other and volunteers in removing the injured and dead people from the debris.
• Motabapu (sarpanch) provided rice and wheat to everyone from his godown.
• The people from different cities kept visiting Jasma’s village and distributed food, clothes, and medicines among the people of the village.
• People from different groups in the city helped the villagers in setting up the tents.
• Some people who visited the village were scientists. They tried to find out which areas have more chances of having an earthquake. They also suggested to the people how to build their houses again.
• The engineers and architects showed the people some special designs for their houses which are shockproof.