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Focus shifts to removal of debris and disinfecting quake areas

The Gujarat government Wednesday virtually called off rescue operations and is now concentrating on removal of debris and taking preventive measures against the possible outbreak of epidemic.

"We have virtually called off the rescue operations and are concentrating on removing the debris and disinfecting to prevent the outbreak of epidemic due to decomposition of trapped bodies," Rescue Secretary S K Nanda told PTI.

With occasional reports of people being found alive, all precautions were being taken while removing the debris and spraying disinfectants, he said.

Nanda said a massive operation to remove debris and disinfecting the areas affected by the Friday's earthquake has begun.

In Kutch, India's largest district that included Bhuj, Rapar, Bhachau and other talukas badly hit by the quake, army and para-military forces were engaged in the debris clearance with the help of cranes, bulldozers and other heavy equipment, he said.

Preparations were also on to carry out mass funerals in Bhuj and other areas of Kutch as identification of highly-decomposed bodies has become difficult, Nanda said.

Plans were also being drawn at the highest level to rehabilitate the affected people mainly widows, orphans and disabled.

Many corporate houses and non-governmental organisations have expressed their desire to adopt the affected areas for rehabilitation purposes and their requests were being considered by the state government, the rescue secretary said.

He refused to give an estimate of the death toll.

Official sources put the loss of property to the tune of nearly Rs 25,000 crore.

Nanda said the worst-affected districts were Ahmedabad, Kutch, Rajkot and Jamnagar. As many as 143,000 houses were fully or partially damaged in the quake in 17 of 25 districts of Gujarat.

Among the least affected were Anand, Bhavnagar, Gandhinagar and Sabarkantha, he added.

The secretary said though rescue operation have been technically called off Tuesday evening, utmost care was being taken while removing the debris in order to ensure that lives of survivors, if any, were not endangered.

Before undertaking the debris-clearance operation at sites, sensor apparatus and the services of sniffer dogs were pressed to ensure there was no life underneath.

About the food being provided by the various voluntary organisations for the victims, Nanda appealed for eatables that could last longer like biscuits, fruits etc as cooked food was rotting fast.

In Ahmedabad, where a 51-year-old woman was rescued alive, about 50 houses had collapsed completely and as many as 1,000 had suffered partial damages, he said.

A survey of unsafe houses was on, Nanda said, adding that 114 residential complexes were found to be structurally poor.

As many as 432 quake-damaged buildings were repairable, he said, adding that the local authorities were also simultaneously demolishing unsafe residential complexes.

Nanda said in Ahmedabad, 738 people had died and 780 were injured.

In future, stress would be laid on constructing quake-proof houses, the secretary said, observing that in Friday's disaster many newly-built houses collapsed while the old ones showed resistance.

PTI

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