Bhuj: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated on Sunday Memorial Van Memorial Which is dedicated to the victims of the devastating 2001 earthquake in Kutch region of Gujarat.
Modi said Smriti Van is a tribute to the lost people and the remarkable fighting spirit of the people of Kutch.
The grand structure, which according to a Gujarat government official is the first such monument in the country, is spread over 470 acres on Bhujio Hill near Bhuj city.
It celebrates the spirit of resilience after the January 26, 2001 earthquake that killed nearly 13,000 people, which had its epicenter in Bhuj.
The memorial bears the names of those who lost their lives during the earthquake. It also houses a state-of-the-art Smriti Van Earthquake Museum.
PM Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, on Sunday inaugurated the first phase of this project spread over 170 acres on the hill.
After the inauguration, Modi, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, walked inside the museum complex, where officials and tour guides briefed him about its various aspects.
Officials had earlier said, notably, it was PM Modi who came up with the idea of setting up such a memorial when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
The museum displays the topography, reconstruction initiatives and success stories of Gujarat after the 2001 earthquake, and informs about different types of disasters and future preparedness for any type of disaster.
It also has a block to re-live the earthquake experience with the help of a 5D simulator and another block for people to pay tribute to the lost souls.
Several people from Kutch district, especially from Bhuj, were among those killed in the quake, which was struck near Chobari village in Bhachau taluka, about 20 km from Bhuj city.
One of the major attractions of this project is the special theater where visitors can experience earthquakes through vibration and sound effects.
The eight-block and 11,500-square-metre museum will house the Harappan civilization of the region, scientific information about earthquakes, the culture of Gujarat, the science behind cyclones and the success of Kutch after the earthquake, a government release said. The story will be displayed.
The museum also has 50 audio-visual models, a hologram, interactive projection and virtual reality facilities for visitors.
Bhujio Hill was a military base for the former rulers of the Kutch region. It has a 300-year-old fort, which was also repaired and repaired under the same project.
About three lakh trees were also planted on the hill through the Miyawaki method, the release said.
Other attractions include 50 check dams, a sun point and a total length of eight kilometers of trails, 1.2 km of internal roads, a 1 MW solar plant and parking facilities for 3,000 visitors.
As a tribute to the 12,932 people who lost their lives in the earthquake, their names are inscribed on the walls of the area check dam.
(with inputs from PTI)
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