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PM numbed by Bhuj's swathe of destruction

Our correspondent

Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, accompanied by senior Cabinet ministers and top civil officials, conducted an aerial survey of Bhuj and Kutch region Monday.

During his aerial survey, a grim-looking prime minister on board the military MI-8 helicopter said, ''The death toll is increasing.''

Earlier, he announced a relief package of Rs 5 billion.

He promised that if needed even more aid would be provided to the state, as the Centre was treating it like a national calamity.

He said that it was only an initial amount and if needed, more would be provided.

The prime minister also announced a National Disaster Management Cell so that if there were any such natural and large-scale calamities, relief could be provided effectively and quickly.

He admitted that the nation was not adequately prepared to face calamities.

Anjar wore a devastated look with houses within a radius of five km of the township completely damaged.

After the 75-minute aerial survey, the prime minister embarked on a 55-km road journey from Kandla to Anjar where debris from collapsed buildings lay on both sides of the road.

Nearly 100,000 people were feared to be still trapped in the debris at Bhuj, Anjar, Rapar, Bachchau (all in Kutch district), Ahmedabad, Surendranagar, Morbi and other places.

With a clear picture on the death toll still to emerge, nearly 7,000 bodies have been extricated from the rubble so far. However, the worst-hit areas like Bhachchau, Anjar and Rapar were yet to begin in right earnest, the toll could go up to 30,000, those involved in the operations apprehend.

Adding to the difficulties in the death toll estimates was the fact that people were taking away the bodies for funeral rites by themselves, surpassing the official channels.

Monday's tremors, measuring between 3.5 and 4.6 on the Richter Scale, shook the Bhuj area and the last one was recorded a little after 0800 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department said in New Delhi.

The IMD said since the major earthquake on January 26, it has recorded 88 moderate aftershocks in the area.

Meanwhile, the Army, with its massive 'Operation Sahayata' for relief and rescue, the Air Force, the Navy and various private, voluntary, national and international organisations were continuing the work in the quake-hit areas. At Kandla port, two navy ships have been converted into hospitals.

Nearly 12,000 injured were being treated in various private or government hospitals, dispensaries and even make shift arrangements like tents, an official said.

In Kutch district, thousands of casual workers from Rajasthan, Orissa and other states employed in salt farms died in the quake. The authorities have begun to bury the unclaimed bodies.

Although authorities in Bhuj had stated that the death toll in Bhuj alone could be nearly 30,000, state government officials were cautious. They said the Latur quake toll, earlier stated to be around 40,000 was later scaled down to about 12,000.

The Prime Minister's Statement in Ahmedabad

The Complete Coverage

OTHER SITES WITH INFORMATION
ON THE GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE:
panjokutch.com
kutchinfo.com
ahmedabad.com

EXTERNAL LINKS
Comprehensive list of earthquake sites
The RD Killer Quake of Jan 26, 2001: Technical details
All about earthquakes in India and their impact
India Meteorological Department's earthquake reports
Disaster relief set-up in India
Major earthquakes across the world in recent times
A post-quake volunteer's unusual tryst with the departed
Earthquake News: Web site offering comprehensive news, information and features
Earthquake site map
USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program

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