People living in the industrial township of Anjar, 34 miles from Bhuj, were probably enjoying their dinner or were already asleep when an earthquake rocked it. On 21st July 1956 since most of 20,000-odd residents were indoors the impact of the quake was intensified. As buildings crumbled 115 died, over half the population were rendered homeless, more than 3,000 houses in 25 villages developed huge cracks, losses ran up to Rs 1 crore. Such devastation wreaked by the quake made it one of the worst calamity to hit Kutch in the past 100 years.

The quake also resulted in a landslide which dislocated railway services and snapped communication and telegraph lines. Anjar, which was known for manufacturing knives and nut-crackers and was considered the industrial centre of Kutch till the government decided to develop Kutch as a major port, suddenly witnessed mass migration.

Over 8,000 affected people migrated from the district a few days after the quake. Rains added to the misery of thousands living in temporary camps.