Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Kutch Returns to Quake-Resistant Bhunga Structures 25 Years After Devastating Earthquake
Twenty-five years ago, a big earthquake hit Kutch in Gujarat, India.
It destroyed many buildings and caused a lot of damage.
After this, people in Kutch started using traditional round mud houses called bhungas, which are much stronger against earthquakes.
These bhungas are made from mud, cow dung, and bamboo.
They can withstand strong shakes and winds.
Organizations like Hunnarshala and KMVS helped rebuild many bhungas and even created guidelines for this type of architecture.
Today, many homestays and resorts in Kutch are built in this style.
The bhungas are not only strong but also good for the environment.
People are still learning from this traditional knowledge and using it to build safer homes.
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Kutch on 26 January 2001, causing widespread destruction and 13,805 casualties.
Traditional round mud structures called bhungas, made by the Meghwal community, withstood the earthquake better than modern reinforced cement concrete buildings.
Organizations like Hunnarshala and KMVS played a crucial role in rebuilding Kutch using bhunga architecture, incorporating modern adaptations and community participation.
The bhungas are made from materials like mud, cow dung, bamboo, stone, and stabilised earth blocks, and are resilient to seismic activity and extreme weather conditions.
Today, nearly all homestays and resorts in Kutch are built in the bhunga style, and the traditional knowledge is being preserved and passed on to younger generations.
- Who
- Residents of Kutch, particularly the Meghwal community, along with organizations like Hunnarshala and KMVS
- What
- A shift back to traditional quake-resistant bhunga structures after the 2001 earthquake
- When
- 25 years after the 2001 earthquake, with significant changes starting immediately after the disaster
- Where
- Kutch region, Gujarat, India
- Why
- To rebuild in a way that minimizes loss of life and property during future earthquakes, leveraging traditional knowledge and modern adaptations
- Date of Earthquake
- 26 January 2001
- Magnitude of Earthquake
- 7.7
- Casualties
- 13,805
- Percentage of Homes Destroyed in Kutch
- More than 90%
- Traditional Structures
- Bhungas (round mud structures)
- Materials Used in Bhungas
- Mud, cow dung, bamboo, stone, and stabilised earth blocks
- Organizations Involved
- Hunnarshala, Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan, Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS)
- Seismic Zone of Kutch
- Zone V