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Centre formulates guidelines for foreign agencies

The Centre has formulated some guidelines to facilitate relief and rescue work by foreign agencies in earthquake-hit Gujarat, Minister of State for External Affairs Ajit Panja said on Monday.

"Foreign NGOs can bring their own aircraft and take them to the nearest airport and all the agencies have been asked to work in tandem with them so that no delay is caused in relief and rescue work due to certain regulations," Panja told newsmen at Howrah station shortly before the arrival of the Ahmedbad Express, carrying quake survivors from Gujarat.

A few days back the external affairs ministry had urged the foreign countries, who had offered to extend their help, and NGOs to rush in materials like sophisticated sensors to gauge the response of any trapped victim buried in rubble, mobile clinics for first aid, specially trained sniffer dogs and earth moving equipment, he told PTI later.

"We have especially asked for those materials which would be of any help and speed up the rescue work," he said.

A special cell has been opened in Delhi to monitor the situation in calamity-struck Gujarat and expedite relief and rescue work, he added.

He said instructions had been issued to carry the injured in naval ships from the nearest port in the disaster areas to Bombay on a war footing.

Asked to comment on the demands to call the disaster a 'national calamity', Panja said, "Nomenclature is not the point but what is needed is work on a war footing to tide over the crisis and I am sure we can do that with the help of all."

Work had already begun in quake-hit areas on a war footing, he said, adding that the Union Cabinet was fully alive to the situation.

He said there were also certain technicalities in calling a calamity a 'national disaster', like earmarking special funds.

"Funds are being earmarked as and when required," he said.

The Union minister said all necessary arrangements had been made by the railways to treat the quake-survivors at railway hospitals free of cost.

"Special compartments have been attached for quake survivors in every train coming from Gujarat while the railway minister has already announced special trains to help the distressed. Every government department -- the railways, air force and others -- are working to help the quake-affected people and their relatives." he said.

PTI

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