Edit: The world responds




Soldiers carry an elderly woman survivor of the Gujarat earthquake who was rescued after being trapped for more than 72 hours in Bhuj city on Monday. — Reuters photo

Far-off areas still cut off; bereft of aid
NEW DELHI, Jan 29 — With time running out for those still buried under the debris and rubble of concrete in the quake devastated Gujarat, the armed and para-military forces today inducted more troops to augment the relief operations already under way on a war footing.

Very few debris-removing machines
NEW DELHI, Jan 29 — The Centre today said the shortage of heavy debris-removing equipment was hampering speedy rescue and relief operations in the quake-hit areas of Gujarat even as it maintained that things are looking better from the management point of view.

• The dead wait for their turn

• Attackers loot rich survivors

• Punjab to send food for 1 lakh daily

• National calamity or not?

Govt simplifies norms to get foreign aid
NEW DELHI, Jan 29 — For hassle-free donations, the Centre today considerably simplified the procedure to enable foreign countries and organisations to contribute for earthquake relief in Gujarat.

• World Bank offers $ 300 m

Quake fear keeps Punjab outdoors
JALANDHAR, Jan 29 — — Fear of an impending earthquake, generated by rumour mills, pushed residents of a number of Punjab cities and towns out of their homes and forced them to stay outdoors.

Rajmohinder is SAD-BJP choice
AMRITSAR, Jan 29 — The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal today took lead by announcing its candidate, Mr Rajmohinder Singh Majitha, Rajya Sabha Member, for the crucial Majitha byelection. (Punjab page)

Detector lies idle in Ajmer SRIGANGANAGAR, Jan 29 — A state-of-the-art seismic activity detection system installed at Ajmer in Rajasthan failed to deliver the goods when it could not detect the quake in Bhuj and its adjoining areas on January 26. The computerised Global Seismological Network was procured from the USA at a cost of Rs 1 crore a couple of years ago but has been on the blink for the past one year.