Nuclear Petrochemicals IT Engineering Risk Management Business Subscriber Login Login to EMIS or to pick up your paid subscription. As India struggles to come to terms with its worst earthquake in 50 years, Platts looks at the effect of the disaster on the nation's energy industry. The quake struck Jan 25 at 10.20pm EST as many cities were beginning celebrations for India's 51st Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of the country's constitution. Up to 100,000 people may have died and up to 20,000 people have been injured, the country's defence minister, George Fernandes, told the BBC late Jan 29. Previous estimates had put the death toll at 20,000 people.
Rescue operations are still underway, while emergency relief for the victims has started pouring in.
The quake measured 7.9 on the Richter scale with its epicenter near Bhuj, a desert town with a population of 150,000 people in the state of Gujarat, close to the border with Pakistan. The quake shook buildings 600 miles away in India's capital, New Delhi. Tremors were also felt as far as 1,200 miles away in Calcutta and Bangladesh. We have decided to meet the emergency on a war footing. This is the time for people to rally around.