Page 4 - Jabalpur_EQ

Preface

The Department of Earthquake Engineering at the University of Roorkee, Roor-
kee has beern of Indian
conducting engineering surveys earthquakes. Such sur
veys are extremely important because real earthquakes provide the best test
results of the performance of structures. In fact, a large part of the progress and
advancement made in the field of earthquake resistant design comes from such
field observations. Moreover, such accounts of earthquakes have socio-historical
significance as they reflect how human societies face and overcome natural
calamities.
With these goals in mind, the Department sent a team to survey the damage
caused by the Jabalpur earthquake of May 22, 1997 in Central India. Drs Ashwani
Kumar, Pankaj, J P Narayan and Durgesh C. Rai visited the Jabalpur and neigh-
bouring villages which were most affected by the earthquake.

This report documents the performance of constructed facilities such as build-
ings, bridges, and dams, etc., and engineering seismological observations

Efforts made by the damage survey team is very much appreciated. Drs Pankaj
and Ashwani Kumar led the team in the field survey whereas Drs Durgesh C. Rai
and J PNarayan compiled and analysed the collected information. Dr Durgesh C.
Rai edited and produced camera-ready copy of the report.

S. Basu
Professor & Head

Jabalpur Earthquake of May 22, 1997 i