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Ahmedabad travel agents'
business flourishes: PTI

Dhananjay Mahapatra in Ahmedabad

On the picturesque highways of Gujarat, the business of scores of travel agents is in overdrive, thanks to demand for vehicles by the government, non-governmental organisations and telecom companies.

Not a single of the four to five thousand tourist vehicles operated by travel agents has lost a single business day since the quake caused widespread destruction and loss of lives in the state on January 26, says Yagnik Patel, a travel agent with 18 vehicles.

"Weekly earnings, if one takes into that got by agents after January 26, has almost doubled per vehicle to Rs.5000," says another tour operator, Jasbir Singh.

Most vehicles have headed for Bhuj; a substantial number is hired by journalists belonging to domestic and international media organisations.

The travel agents are, however, not enjoying the windfall.

"We wish we could do something to help the victims of earthquake" was the remorseful reply of Patel, when asked how he felt about business generated by the quake.

"It is a pity we do not have an organised effort to help mitigate the sufferings of the quake victims, when even railway coolies have organised free meals for them," says Singh, who started his business last year.

And those who drive these vehicles day in and day out to reach those visiting the state either to cover the quake-affected areas or help victims, are an interesting lot.

Ramesh, a Rajasthani employed with Patel, does not know whether to feel good or bad.

"If I take tourists, I have a chance of visiting my hometown Udaipur once in a while. But taking the visitors to quake-affected areas means I am totally cut off from my family," he said.

However, he thinks for a while and says with a wry smile, "Anyway, I think I am also contributing, be it miniscule, to the cause of the quake victims."

Most of them carry tales of valour shown by army personnel, the humanitarian approach of NGOs, concern of the foreign relief teams... and tales invariably end with a story about the apathy of the administration and inhuman behaviour of the state police force.

"Had the army been called and deployed in the areas devastated by the killer quake on January 26 itself, they could have rescued many more from the debris," says Lalchand.

PTI

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