E A R T H Q U A K E

Countries offer aid, UN despatches team
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 27 — Within hours of the deadly earthquake striking India, the UN has dispatched a five-member disaster assessment and coordination team as top officials, including Secretary-General Kofi Annan and General Assembly President Harri Holkeri, expressed shock over the devastating earthquake.

Tectonic collision caused quake? HYDERABAD, Jan 27 — The Himalayas may be far away from Gujarat, but the distant collision of tectonic plates under the Himalayas may have played a role in causing today’s devastating quake in Kutch, the most powerful to shake this region in 200 years, scientists say. Controversy over magnitude of quake NEW DELHI, Jan 27 — A major controversy has erupted over the magnitude of yesterday’s earthquake — which is feared to have killed about 10,000 people in Gujarat — with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) putting the magnitude figure at 7.9 and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) at 6.9.

An earthquake-damaged building in Ahmedabad and (right) a boy tries to pull the body of his mother from out of the rubble of their collapsed house in Bhuj after the earthquake ravaged Gujarat. — Reuters photos

Dalai lama's forecast comes true
DHARAMSALA (HP), Jan 27 —The devastating earthquake that rocked parts of Gujarat yesterday, killing over thousands of people, has made the forecast made by the 14th Dalai Lama true.

Quake throws groom into hospital
AHMEDABAD, Jan 27 — Riding on a horse by a bridegroom at a marriage procession did not turn out to be a fun yesterday. The bridegroom landed in a hospital instead of the bride’s place as the devastating earthquake scared the horse so much that it ran away in panic, injuring the bridegroom at Chandkheda here.

Terrified, 10 pupils jump from building
AHMEDABAD, Jan 27 — Ten students of the Swami Narayan School at Maninagar jumped from a four-storeyed school building just before it completely collapsed, probably the only ones of 75 who did not die in the deadliest earthquake in 50 years in Gujarat.

Mild tremors in region
SHIMLA, Jan 27 — Himachal Pradesh has contributed Rs 51 lakh as relief for victims of the worstever earthquake in Gujarat which has claimed the lives of several thousands.

Blankets, medicines for Gujarat
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Even as the Chandigarh Administration is targeting to collect Rs 1 crore as relief for the earthquake-stricken people of Gujarat, 12,000 blankets collected from Ludhiana and local blanket dealers will be airlifted by tomorrow morning to the state.

• PGI team leaves

• Injured being brought to city

• Presiding officers’ conference put off

‘Put off exams, send medicos to Gujarat’
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Mr Rashpal Malhotra, Director, CRRID, has in a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office sought postponement of the final MBBS examinations in all government and private colleges throughout the country so as to use the services of these medicos for providing first aid and healthcare to the earthquake victims of Gujarat.

Chautala condoles death of quake victims
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today expressed deep shock and grief over the death of thousands of persons due to a devastating earthquake in Gujarat. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, adding that the Haryana Government would provide all necessary help to the victims.

Quake hits oil supply from Kandla
BATHINDA, Jan 27 — The supply of petrol and diesel into the Bathinda-Kandla pipeline has been closed from Kandla as its pumping station suffered minor cracks after the earthquake that struck Gujarat yesterday.

Jacob seeks help for quake victims
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — 'Chetna', a district conference of the Rotary Club (District 3080) opened at Panjab University here today with a promise of immediate steps to provide aid to earthquake victims in Gujarat.

Quake relief cheque lands in Tribune
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Tribune, though yet to start the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, has started receiving contributions from its readers for the welfare of the earthquake victims.

The aid would be offered to the International Federation for the Red Cross and Crescent and the Caritas India organisation, it said in a statement.

Tectonic collision caused quake?

HYDERABAD, Jan 27 (PTI) — The Himalayas may be far away from Gujarat, but the distant collision of tectonic plates under the Himalayas may have played a role in causing today’s devastating quake in Kutch, the most powerful to shake this region in 200 years, scientists say.

The last recorded earthquake in the Rann of Kutch took place on June 16, 1819. It had a magnitude of 7.5 and generated a 90-km long wall known as “Allah bund” (wall of God) with a height of 4.3 metres and width of about 20 km.

Detailed scientific investigations of “Allah bund” over the decades could have yielded valuable insights into today’s earthquake. But the opportunity was lost, as the “bund” became a sensitive issue being close to the border between India and Pakistan. Field studies began only in 1997.

Scientists at the Centre for Earth Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram carried out the studies and the data was still being analysed. Preliminary analysis revealed that the 1819 quake and the one believed to have occurred 1000 years earlier had led to “multiple liquefaction” cutting across the horizons of human settlements.

Liquefaction is a phenomenon in which shock waves from earthquake turn the soil very soft-like quick sand-resulting in buildings and structures being sucked into the ground.

“Kutch region falls in the northern fringe of stable continental region of India”, says Mr C.P. Rajendran a scientist at centre. “This fact together with the relative closeness to an interplate boundary makes the Kutch seismic zone a unique example of SCR seismicity.

Mr Rajendran’s studies have also shown that “Allah bund” is not a fault plane but is an “indication of large scale folding”.

Controversy over magnitude of quake

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 (UNI) — A major controversy has erupted over the magnitude of yesterday’s earthquake — which is feared to have killed about 10,000 people in Gujarat — with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) putting the magnitude figure at 7.9 and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) at 6.9.

Dr S.K. Srivastav, Additional Director-General in charge of Seismological Studies of the IMD, told UNI that this difference was due to two different scales used by the two agencies for measuring the quake’s magnitude. While the IMD calculated the magnitude on the Richter scale or MB scale, the USGS did it on the MS scale.

“The USGS has seismological observatories all over the world which are spread far and wide. Their calculation was based on the recordings of observatories located at distances of up to 3000 km apart. So only the large period surface waves and not the real short period seismic waves reached these observatories,” he said.

However, the IMD, which has 12 of its 45 observatories in the region which are a few hundred km apart, calculated the quake magnitude using the Richter scale which is more accurate, Dr Srivastav said. He said the IMD calculation was based on the average of recordings of a number of observatories so it was “more authentic”. The MB scale is always used in calculating the quake magnitude by the local government agency, he said.

Moreover, MS scale — used by the USGS — always gives modified results which was evident from the fact that the figure of IMD observatory at Thiruvanathapuram using MS scale stood at 7.6, he pointed out.

“Besides, the USGS recordings were of B and C quality which also puts a question mark on their accuracy. And even if we take USGS’s figure to be accurate, then what about their calculation of the quake epicentre which they found to be 50 km east of Bhuj, which bore the maximum damage,” he asked.

Dalai lama's forecast comes true

DHARAMSALA (HP), Jan 27 (UNI)—The devastating earthquake that rocked parts of Gujarat yesterday, killing over thousands of people, has made the forecast made by the 14th Dalai Lama true.

The prediction made by the Dalai Lama on February 8 last year, the third day of the Tibetan new year— Losar— that a catastrophe in the form of a devastating earthquake would occur in the country before February, 2001, has further exalted and justified his spiritual status of the highest spiritual Lama of the Tibetan community.

The third day of the Losar is traditionally graced by the Dalai Lama himself, when he calls upon the deities to tell the Tibetan masses about any imminent calamity or any significant event in store for the ensuing year.

The divination is performed by writing a number of possible events on bits of paper and rolling them into balls of “tsampa’’ (roasted barley flour).

The Dalai Lama then picks one of them and makes a prediction.

Interestingly, the ball he had chosen last year in February on the third day of the Losar had stated that an earthquake of high intensity might occur in the country or in the north region of the country during the new Tibetan year ( 2000-2001).

Quake throws groom into hospital

AHMEDABAD, Jan 27 (UNI) — Riding on a horse by a bridegroom at a marriage procession did not turn out to be a fun yesterday. The bridegroom landed in a hospital instead of the bride’s place as the devastating earthquake scared the horse so much that it ran away in panic, injuring the bridegroom at Chandkheda here.

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The celebrations for the 52nd Republic Day also could not remain unaffected. In an incident, more than 850 schoolchildren, waiting under a shed at the police Shaibaug stadium, had to run away to an open space, forcing the authorities to abandon the function.

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The community mess and temporary shelters have come up in almost the entire city as people refused to go back to their houses.

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A report from Mumbai said a 10-day old infant was among those killed by the quake. The baby boy of a Western Railway employee residing in staff quarters outside the Lakodia railway station was killed by the quake, which caused severe damage to staff quarters. Three other members of the family also sustained severe injuries.

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A crisis makes heroes out of men. This time, two dogs bagged the honour. Sensing something unnatural, “Sweety” and “Button” tried to drag out their owner Sulakshmi (50) from her ninth-floor apartment, just before the quake struck. Kissing her pets, Sulakshmi said the dogs began behaving strangely half hour before the earthquake, dragging her towards the main door of her flat at Pushparag Apartment, near Judges colony.

Terrified, 10 pupils jump from building

AHMEDABAD, Jan 27 (UNI) — Ten students of the Swami Narayan School at Maninagar jumped from a four-storeyed school building just before it completely collapsed, probably the only ones of 75 who did not die in the deadliest earthquake in 50 years in Gujarat.

The students, though it was a holiday due to Republic Day, had a special extra science class. Over 75 students in the four-storeyed building were terrified and started running helter skelter. Five jumped from the top on the front side and another five on the rear side.

Another member Sandeep Shah said even now 10 to 15 students were trapped under rubble and rescue efforts were continuing.

Mild tremors in region
From Tribune Reporters

SHIMLA, Jan 27 — Himachal Pradesh has contributed Rs 51 lakh as relief for victims of the worstever earthquake in Gujarat which has claimed the lives of several thousands.

A cheque for this amount was today despatched by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, to his Gujarat counterpart, Mr Keshubhai Patel in Gujarat.

Mr Dhumal and his ministerial colleagues have decided to contribute their one-month salary towards the relief for the earthquake victims.

The Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Mr Virbhadra Singh, announced that all Congress legislators would contribute their one month’s salary towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the earthquake victims.

The Governor, Mr Suraj Bhan, expressed grief over the devastation caused by the earthquake. Mrs Vidya Stokes, President of the PCC, also expressed shock over the tragedy.

MANDI: Mandi and its adjoining areas were rocked by tremors at 8.55 a.m. on Friday. No loss of life or property was reported.

Sundernagar sub-division has been experiencing mild tremors since last fortnight.

Dr B.K. Rastogi, a geoscientist at the Geographical Research Institute, has already warned that the Himalayas may be hit by a big earthquake in a radius up to 400 km from its epicentre, including Uttar Pradesh Delhi and the Gangetic plains.

The Himalayas were one of the most active tectonic belts of the world and a rare site of intercontinental collision. Dr Rastogi said the magnitude of the massive quake due in the Himalayas could be 8 on the Richter scale but it was not known when it would strike.

SONEPAT: Sonepat and its suburbs were rocked by a tremor around 8.50 a.m. on Friday.

The tremor was felt for about 40 seconds or so. Doors and windowpanes rattled and people rushed to open areas. No loss of life or property has been reported.

Reports of tremors were also received from several areas of this district.

BALACHAUR: An earthquake of mild intensity shook this subdivision around 8.46 a.m. on Friday.

No loss of life or damage of property, was reported.

FARIDKOT: Mild tremors were felt for about 30 seconds here at 8.50 a.m. on Friday. No loss of life and property was reported.

PHAGWARA: Tremors were felt in this area around 8.53 a.m., on Friday. The tremors continued for about a minute as doors and windows rattled.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: The State Anti-Terrorist Front on Saturday despatched two truck loads of different articles for Gujarat.

According to Mr Jagmeet Sahota, state president of the front, the trucks were despatched from Mandi Gobindgarh.

He said help for the victims in Gujarat would be sent from all districts of the state. The front had directed all its district units to collect the funds.

Blankets, medicines for Gujarat
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Even as the Chandigarh Administration is targeting to collect Rs 1 crore as relief for the earthquake-stricken people of Gujarat, 12,000 blankets collected from Ludhiana and local blanket dealers will be airlifted by tomorrow morning to the state.

On the special request of the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob(Retd), the Indian Air Force (IAF) has agreed to provide two MI 8 helicopters to airlift the blankets, medicines and other relief materials from Chandigarh.

As the news of earthquake in Gujarat rocked the country, General Jacob spent whole day in mobilising contributions and relief for the quake-hit people of Gujarat. Early in the morning, he called the meeting of the UT Red Cross. The Red Cross Earthquake Relief Fund—Gujarat was set up to enable people to make contributions to the fund. The first contribution for the fund came from the Rotary Club who’s Congress was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. JFR Jacob, PVSM (Retd.) in the morning. On the appeal of Administrator, the Rotary Club announced immediate relief of Rs 2. 80 lakh and 10,000 blankets. Ms Neeru Nanda, Advisor to the Administrator held a meeting of various trade organisations and appealed to them to contribute generously for earthquake-hit people. Chandigarh Aggarwal Sabha, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal and Chandigarh Sabzi Mandi Associations presented cheques of Rs 1 lakh each for the earthquake-hit people. They came to Punjab Raj Bhavan and presented these cheques to the Administrator. Meanwhile, other associations have also promised to contribute generously by Monday. General Jacob appealed to the people that one lakh blankets were required for homeless people of Gujarat.

He said that blankets, medicines along with teams of doctors are planned to be airlifted to Gujarat to provide immediate succour. He appealed to the people to contribute generously to the Red Cross Earthquake Relief Fund—Gujarat.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Nagrik Sabha has called upon the people to contribute generously for the quake victims. At a meeting of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana it was decided to send Rs 1 lakh to the earthquake victims. The council also decided to organise a blood donation camp for the victims.

The local unit of BJP urged the Centre to provide maximum help to the victims. The State Bank of Patiala, Sector 32, staff donated one day’s salary for the victims. Meanwhile, the Seismological Observatory at the CSIO recorded the earthquake of about 7 magnitude on the Richter scale. The origin of the earthquake was about 900 km away from Chandigarh. A social organisation by the name of Freedom India will hold a camp in Sector 37 on Monday to collect dried food items and money for quake victims of Gujarat.

In Pinjore, The management of St Vivekanand Millennium School held a meeting and resolved to raise funds and material for the people of Gujarat. A chain would be formed by the students, staff and management of the school along with HMT management and employees.

SAS NAGAR: The Ropar district administration is sending items of daily use for the victims of Gujarat earthquake. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G.S. Grewal, said efforts were being made to resource the relief supply through the Red Cross and non-government Organisations (NGOs). He appealed to the NGOs and the general public to contribute for the cause.

PGI team leaves

A 22-member team of PGI specialists was flown to Gujarat on board a special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft late last night following directions issued by the Union Cabinet. The team, led by Prof Y.K. Batra, comprises doctors from the fields of surgery, nephrology, orthopaedics, paediatric’s surgery and internal medicine. Three nurses and two helpers are accompanying the team.

Seven transport planes, including four AN-32, today left from the Air Force base here to Ahmedabad to help in rescue and relief operations. A defence spokesman said the planes were carrying army equipment required for the relief operations. Besides, this a team of Armymen had gone to the affected areas by these planes, he said.

Injured being brought to city

A special plane of the Indian Air Force, carrying the seriously injured persons of the Gujarat earthquake, is expected to land in the city past midnight.

According to sources, the staff of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 has been alerted and asked to make arrangements to admit the injured.

Director Principal of the Sector 32 Hospital Professor S.B.S. Mann said arrangements to admit 50 to 55 injured have been made.

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The All-India Conference of Presiding Officers and Secretaries of Legislative Bodies in India, scheduled to be held here from January 29 to February 2, has been postponed in view of the devastating Gujarat earthquake, says a press note of the Vidhan Sabha.

‘Put off exams, send medicos to Gujarat’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Mr Rashpal Malhotra, Director, CRRID, has in a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office sought postponement of the final MBBS examinations in all government and private colleges throughout the country so as to use the services of these medicos for providing first aid and healthcare to the earthquake victims of Gujarat.

Mr Malhotra said in his letter that at present requirement was not so much of specialists and super specialists but of a large army of young medicos who could go to remote areas and work for longer hours to provide the basic healthcare services to the sick and wounded.

By postponing the final examinations by two to three months, all students on a voluntary basis can be asked to go to the affected areas and work there. This period should be counted towards their internship or professional training.

Mr Malhotra, who is also the Honorary Director of the Himalayan Institute of Hospital and Medical Education, which runs a medical college also, offered to send 60 to 70 MBBS final-year students to Gujarat immediately. Mr Malhotra said that he himself would head a small team of the CRRID to the Bhuj area of Gujarat for an on-the-spot study of the impact of the earthquake.

It may be pertinent to mention here that the National Disaster Management Commission has given to the CRRID a pilot project on the preparation of the district disaster management programme for the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Chautala condoles death of quake victims
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today expressed deep shock and grief over the death of thousands of persons due to a devastating earthquake in Gujarat. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, adding that the Haryana Government would provide all necessary help to the victims.

He appealed to the people of Haryana, especially the voluntary and social organisations to come forward and donate liberally for rehabilitating and providing succour to the victims.

The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, also expressed profound grief over the loss of human lives and property in the devastating earthquake. He conveyed his heart-felt sympathies to the members of the bereaved families.

Quake hits oil supply from Kandla
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Jan 27 — The supply of petrol and diesel into the Bathinda-Kandla pipeline has been closed from Kandla as its pumping station suffered minor cracks after the earthquake that struck Gujarat yesterday.

Official sources said though the extent of damage to the pumping station could not be known it has been closed for repair.

Petrol and diesel are being pumped into the Bathinda-Kandla pipeline from Panipat and Mathura refineries to maintain adequate supply of fuel in the northern region

A senior official said the boundary wall of the pumping station was also damaged but all other equipments were safe.

Jacob seeks help for quake victims
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — 'Chetna', a district conference of the Rotary Club (District 3080) opened at Panjab University here today with a promise of immediate steps to provide aid to earthquake victims in Gujarat.

Lt Gen J.F.R.Jacob, governor of Panjab, in his inaugural address sought public help for the victims of the natural calamity. He said all possible avenues for help were being explored.

Mr R.K.Bhatia, district governor, announced a grant of Rs 2. 80 lakh from the organisation funds for immediate relief to the earthquake victims. The list of aid also included 10,000 blankets.

It was decided that the relief operations would be functional by tomorrow. There was also a move to raise more funds. More sources were also being contacted for aid, said Dr Raja Saboo, a past Rotary International president, talking to the Tribune.

Dr R.S.Bedi, conference chairman, welcomed the delegates. The host Rotary Chandigarh Central is part of the Rotary state which covers clubs in the UT ,Haryana , a large number of clubs in Punjab and parts in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Luis Vicente Giay, a former Rotary president , said Rotary was the biggest social organisation and it managed nearly $ 2500 million funds each year. There were more than 50,000 rotary clubs worldwide. His wife Ms Celia Giay also addressed the gathering. A Rotarian president R.D.S.Riar proposed the vote of thanks.

Later, in the evening Hans Raj Hans performed for Rotarians and their friend at the law auditorium.

Quake relief cheque lands in Tribune
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Tribune, though yet to start the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, has started receiving contributions from its readers for the welfare of the earthquake victims.

The first bank draft of Rs 500 was received by the Editor, Mr Hari Jaisingh, from a reader, Mr Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, for onward transmission to the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Mr Sharma, a Chartered Accountant, also wanted The Tribune to start the Earthquake Relief Fund immediately to mitigate some of the suffering of the victims.