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Ahmedabad limps back to normalcy

Dilip Gohil in Ahmedabad

After a week of tremors, trauma and tragedy, Ahmedabad is gradually limping back to normalcy. However, it will be a long time before the city regains the vigour and vitality it is known for.

People are yet to get over the fear psychosis created by the killer quake of January 26 and very few, specially those living in high-rise buildings, are willing to spend the nights in their own houses. Some have taken shelter with their more affluent relatives living in bungalows, while others prefer to sleep in make-shift mandaps erected in housing societies.

The rescue work is over in the sense that there is hardly any chance of finding anybody alive under the debris now.

Shops and offices are now open, but people are shopping only for essentials. An electronics goods retailer has not seen a single customer in two days. "I don't expect anybody actually. I open my shop because there is nothing to do at home," he says.

Banks, however, are buzzing with activity. People obviously want to be in possession of as much cash as possible.

On Thursday, a team of senior officials of seven nationalised banks visited Gujarat to take stock of the situation.

In Kutch, however, most banks have suffered extensive damage in the quake and the state government is now pressing mobile banks into service.

In Ahmedabad those who have lost their passbooks or chequebooks are being allowed to operate their accounts after a simple identity verification.

Meanwhile, the demolition of badly damaged buildings in the city has been suspended following opposition from residents. Three buildings were demolished on Wednesday.

In some cases residents of neighbouring buildings opposed the use of detonators in the demolition fearing damage to their houses.

The Complete Coverage | List of earthquake sites

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