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Relief work is progressing satisfactorily: Baruah

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

"The Gujarat government has appealed for self-contained medical teams, including field hospitals and X-ray vans, to be sent to Bhuj," said Agriculture Secretary Bhaskar Baruah, who is heading the crisis management team set up by the central government to co-ordinate the earthquake relief work.

He said the Gujarat government had also appealed for heavy equipment like cranes, payloads, forklifts and cutting machinery. These equipment will help cut and lift concrete slabs under which many people are still believed to be buried.

"Things are looking better now and work is progressing satisfactorily. More than 1,000 doctors and medical personnel are attending the injured people. There are 5,563 rescue and relief personnel besides 2,000 army personnel on the move," added Baruah.

He also informed that the demand for food was not high and Maharashtra is continuously sending items like biscuits and bread.

Nearly, 92,000 blankets have already gone to Gujarat and another 57,000 are about to leave. Another 8,120 tents have gone and 2,450 tents will reach there shortly.

Interestingly, Baruah said that the death figures given by Gujarat state government till Monday afternoon was 6,287 while the number of injured people reported were 15,481. He also stated that so far no missing complaints were lodged.

Baruah also said, "The railway lines have been restored in Gandhidham and goods trains are able to reach with ten kms of Bhuj. This will be a great help in sending various commodities." He also said that a special water train is moving to Gandhidham and Nalia.

Baruah was confident of installing water and power supply soon.

Meanwhile, Alliance Airways will fly six sorties a day to Bhuj. And each sortie will carry 16 stretchers and 16 attendants.

The Gujarat government has also appealed for clothes to the quake victims.

Baruah commended the Maharashtra government's efforts. "Maharashtra has responded very well because it is sending 7,500 tonnes of firewood to Bhuj alongwith doctors, mobile hospitals and a civil defence team.

Of other developments, Baruah said, "Kandla airport, about 40 kms from Bhuj, has been made operational to expedite relief operations. An Italian team has come on Monday and they are willing to provide self-contained mobile hospitals and sniffer dogs."

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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