Housing reconstruction in post-earthquake Gujarat: a comparative analysis

This paper aims to contribute to the discussion on disaster management reconstruction through an exploration of local perceptions of housing reconstruction in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Gujarat in India on 26 January 2001. The earthquake was India´s most severe natural disaster for almost 300 years. At least 20, 000 people were killed and over 167, 000 severely injured. An estimated 344, 000 houses were destroyed, and over a million damaged. While this paper covers Gujarat specifically, its findings will be relevant for agencies engaged in post-disaster housing reconstruction in other contexts, for instance in areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami and in post-earthquake Kashmir.