Gujarat (Western India) received a 7.9 Richter scale earthquake on January 26, 2001, killing approxinmately 100,000 people.

From News Archives: (New Delhi, January 30, 2001) Defence Minister George Fernandes today apprehended that the death toll in earthquake that devastated Gujarat on January 26, could be as high as a staggering 100,000. Fernandes, who visited the worst affected areas including Bhuj, Anjar, Rapar and Ahmedabad, told PTI here "if my worst fears come true, the death toll could be in six figures." Fernandes said the old city of Bhuj has been totally ravaged and "we don't know how many people are lying under the debris." Bhuj, which has a population of 150,000, has been totally ravaged and is non-existent, he said. Anjar, the second most populous town with a population of 80,000, was under debris except for some new buildings which are outside the township.