EARTH QUAKE IN GUJARAT : REPORT.
Report of relief work in Anjar Block till 15.03. 2001.
Report in brief
No. of villages badly affected-35
Houses completely damaged -- 1145
Houses partially damaged -- 3180
Loss of life -- 998
People affected -- 60860
Details of relief operations
Relief materials received -- 250 truck loads
Distributed till date -- 200 truck loads
Corpses taken out &last rites
performed-292
People taken out alive ---122
No. of villages attended ---35
No. of relief materials distribution
Blankets --- 5000
Carpets ---7000
Cloths --- 5 truckloads
Tents --- 150
A new colony by the name "Vir Bhagat Singh Nagar" has been established in which 105 tents
have been installed. For providing employment, various tools&kit has been supplied to the
Carpenters, Black Smiths, Barber, Cobbler, Tailor etc.
Numbers of Study centres have been opened to impart free education for the student of
class X and class XII. Women folk have come forward to lend a helping hand in teaching by
going to nearby villages. It is a very pleasant experience to watch en folk participating
in social work. The affected people are developing confidence by the efforts made by
Swayamsevaks. Sangh Shakhas have started in 15 villages to instill confidence and do moral
boosting of the affected people.
Notable Experiences
: A girl of 10 years of age, picked up two small children in her arms and
ran out-side to save them. While running out to save them, a wall fell on her feet in which
her fingers were amputated. Even in such wounded condition, she was able to save the lives of
the two children. This is an incident of Chhasra village.
: Sambhu a truck driver of Anjar block, while removing the debris from a house, found a bag full
of cash. The bag had Rs. 3.5 million in it. He handed over the bag to the B.S.F. personnel
dutifully. The B.S.F. handed over the bag to the genuine owner of the bag. The owner of the bag
wanted to give some money as a reward to Sambhu, but he refused to take any money, saying that
it was his responsibility to do so.
: An old Muslim woman, who worked as a mid-wife in village Kotra, had been to a Hindu house for
assisting in the birth of a child. That was the time when the earthquake took place. She
immediately pushed out the mother, and covered the newly born child under her arms. By doing
so, the Muslim lady saved the lives of both the mother and the child, but was herself crushed
to death.
: A social worker of Pune, Jagdish Nagarkar had brought rupees two thousand for distribution to
the affected people. But, to his surprise, no body accepted any contribution from him. They said
they have received ample amount of help and now they want to do something on their own. This is
an example of self-reliance.
Report of Sewa activities in Bhachau Block till 17.03.2001
Bhachau Block
Population - 1 million
Total no. of villages- 71 villages
Loss of life- 10 thousand
Total no. of houses- 35 thousand. Totally destroyed.
Bhachau town
Population- 40 thousand
Loss of life- 5 thousand
Total no. of houses- 7000 (All damaged)
A view of relief work:
DR. HEDGEWAR RUGNALAYA (HOSPITAL): The hospital was inaugurated on 2nd March 2001, at the
hands of Shri M. G. Vaidya, member national executive council and spokesman of RSS. This
hospital is facilitated with an operating suit of three operating theatres (OT). One OT
is exclusively for clean orthopedic cases. Besides a storeroom and an autoclave room this
has a secluded Indoor Patients' Department (IPD). Beds are available for pediatrics, adult
male and female medicine wards, surgical ward for both sexes and all age groups, gynecological
ward and orthopedics. Total number of beds is 60.
I. ALLIED ACTIVITIES: A physiotherapy unit is found to be very necessary and is well
attended. A radiology department (X-ray unit) and a pathological laboratory for basic
tests is established.
II. OUTDOOR PATIENTS DEPARTMENT(OPD): A well-organized outdoor patients' department (OPD)
is run morning and evening except Sunday evening. Medical, general surgical, gynecology
and obstetrics, pediatrics, orthopedic, ophthalmic, E.N.T., dermatology, psychiatry, and
dental clinics are run.
III. STAFF:
MEDICAL: We have full medical team. It is to be noted that the specialists are coming
here in batches from outside Gujarat for seven days. We have a few full time doctors
working on a very modest honorarium. Doctors coming from outside are purely for humanitarian
reasons. They meet their own expenses of travel. Very humble boarding and lodging is provided.
NURSING: Even this moderate sized hospital needs a good team of nurses. We have
a small team
of properly trained nurses and attempts are on to recruit more for this noble cause.
TECHNICHIANS: Radiology, pathology technicians, pharmacists are appointed as per
requirement.
IV. MOBILE CLINICS: Two mobile clinics are functioning covering the surrounding rural areas
daily except on Sunday. Each mobile unit has a doctor and a pharmacist. They leave the base
camp at 9 AM and return by 7 PM.
V. SUPPORTING ACTIVITY: Child psychiatry clinics, counseling and rehabilitation sessions
are held daily, seven days a week. This activity is showing marvelous results. Two well
trained and experienced lady volunteers are here to serve in this area that is giving very
pleasing and satisfying results.
VI. KITCHEN: A kitchen is an absolute necessity. We provide morning tea, breakfast and
biscuits or some light snacks for all including one relative of indoor patients. Morning
and evening vegetarian meals are also provided.
VII. OFFICE: An office run by volunteers only looks after the administration, coordination
and visitors.
VIII. HOW DO WE MANAGE: The hospital is run entirely on donations in the form of cash and kind.
Some medical equipments and drugs are donated. Thus this hospital is run by the people for
people.
IX. BENIFICERIES: As on 2nd April 2001 that is one month after the hospital was inaugurated
the following figures are self-explanatory.
Total OPD attendance -13589 :Orthopedic 2218
Dental 359
ENT 316
Medicine 2196
Opthalmology 535
Gynecology 642
Skin 63
Miscellaneous 5991
Pathology Laboratory- 408
Radiology- 1499
Labour (deliveries)- 32
Operations- 164
X FUTURE: It is too early to dream for future. Still one can say with pride that people are
extremely satisfied with the services. Some say they never had it so good. If we have to wind
up this for want of resources and manpower citizens of Bhachau will be crestfallen. Not to
sound too melodramatic for the closure of this hospital will be a disaster as cruel as perhaps
the earthquake. To build up a permanent hospital huge funds will be needed. Staff will need
to be appointed on long term basis and paid handsomely. Let us hope for the best.
Report of Sewa activities in Radhanpur till 21.03.2001
Present Activities.
1. Distribution of food materials in the earthquake affected areas.
2. Survey to consider adoption of three villages (Jakhotra Aluwas and Patanka) for
rehabilitation.
3. Spread of Shakha activities by swayamsevaks.
Notable events:
: A hospital is being run by Sangh in Unjha (Radhanpur). One night the number of patients
increased. Suddenly, we fell short of Doctors. The organiser of the Hospital talked to
Shailesh Bhai Thakkar (Vibhag Karyavah) to manage doctors from Karnavati, as 12 cases of
operations were to be done. Shailesh Bhai called to Karnavati at 12.00 midnight.
In morning when Shailesh Bhai reached the hospital at 7 am he wanted to know whether
doctors from Karnavati had come or not. To his surprise, he was informed that team of
doctors from Karnavati had come, and attended to all the required operations and went back.
: A local forest officer gave his cloths to his maidservant for washing. Our swayamsevaks
were visiting from house to house asking for cloths for distribution. When the Swayamsevaks
reached forest officer's house, the maid- servant handed over all the cloths to the swayamsevaks
which she was given for washing. When the officer came to know that his cloths were given to
the swayamsevaks by his maid-servant, he had words of praise for the servant.
:Shri Anil Bhai Palekar (Tehsil Pracharak, Radhanpur) is very much impressed by the Sewa
activities being done by student swayamsevaks. They remained permanently engaged in carrying
our relief operations without the feeling of thirst or hunger. They didn't even bother to
study even though the college examinations were near. One swayamsevak expressed that he
can give the examinations next year also, but such an opportunity to serve to the mankind
may not come in my life.
Relief work in Rapar Tehsil till 18.03.2001.
Brief View:
Total No. of Villages- 112
Loss of human lives- 661
Fully damaged houses- 30,000
Partially damaged houses- 9,000
Sewa Activities:
Three hundred trucks load of relief materials distributed.
3735 tents and carpets distributed. People are being encouraged to play games to keep them
in good humour and forget the trauma.
Report of Morvi in Rajkot district till 23.03. 2001
Brief introduction: Morvi is one of the many villages affected badly by the earthquake.
Altogether 183 villages of Morvi-Maria and Tankara block were left devastated. The
coordination of all the relief works were carried on from Morvi. Loss of life was not much,
as campared to other places but the houses were damaged badly.
Relief works:
The Maharani of Morvi provided 758 tents, which was used for setting up shcools in number of
villages. This resulted in the resumption of studies within a week from the day of violent
earthquake.
ABVP opened education centres for guidance to student of class 10th and 12th. The swayamsevaks
of ABVP were engaged in the teaching work.
The sevikas of Rashtra Sevika Samiti visited many villages , to instill confidence in the
village folks. This had a very good effect. Seeing the mothers confident, the children were
also very happy.
Present work: The swayamsevaks of Morvi are involved in rehabilitation work. Devgarh village
has been adopted for rehabilitation for which the foundation was laid down on the 26th of March.
Along with it, survey is being conducted to adopt few more villages in the vicinity.
Report Aamaran in Rajkot District till 24.03 2001.
Brief Introduction: Aamaran village is also one badly affected village due to the earthquake.
There were 1296 houses, which were damaged extensively. 14 people lost their lives. Despite,
being badly devastated, Aamaran became the centre of relief operations. At present in around
14 villages relief operations are being conducted.
Work:
The whole village was devastated. Fortunately, loss of life was not much but all
the houses were damaged. 50 swayamsevaks of village Aamaran, grouped together and started
rescue operations immediately. They first started to remove the debris, and take our belonging
from the damaged houses.
: About 1500 swayamsevaks came here from 8 districts, who started working in number of villages
in an organised way. 50 trucks load of relief materials were distributed in 14 nearby villages.
Effect of Activities of Sangh
: From Sangh point of view the village is very active.
Immediately after the earthquake the swayamsevaks started relief operations without
waiting for any external assistance. The people of the village praise the work done by
the RSS. The confidence installed by the swayamsevaks was experienced when all the truck
loads of relief materials reached only RSS camp.
Inspiring events
: Elder brother , his wife and three daughters of Shashikant Likhia lay buried
in the debris. Shashikant with the help of swayamsevaks could take out his brother alive and
performed last rites for the rest as they were dead. After becoming free he joined in Sewa
activities.
: Pankaj Bhai lost his uncle and aunt in the earthquake. Despite this tragedy in his family,
he is actively involved in Sewa activities.
: A patient in Bhuj hospital became very serious and was supposed to be taken to Mumbai.
One swayamsevak brought the patient to Bhuj Airport. The patient did not have any relatives
or friends to accompany to Mumbai. Seeing the condition of the patient, the swayamsevak
accompanied him to Mumbai. For three day, the swayamsevak took care of the patient, like
someone his own. But suddenly, he realised that the only belonging he had was the cloths
he was wearing. He did not even have any money to travel back home. The Doctors in Mumbai
made arrangements for his travel.
Medical Help
Medical camps were opened at Bhuj, Bhachau, Anjar, Rapar, Radhanpur, Patan, Dhanera, Disa,
Unjha, Sidhhapur, Mehsana, Kadi and Kalol. Sewa is being rendered in hospitals at Karnavati,
Jamnagar and Morbi. At Karnavati, Civil hospital , L.G hospital, V.S. hospital, Shardaben hospital
are being covered by over 500 workers, day and night. Besides these Dhanvantari Trust, Karuna
Trust, Kutchh Jain Samaj Trust have also accommodated patients from the earthquake affected
areas. Many doctors have accommodated patients in their private. Hospitals too. Around 2000
patients are undergoing long duration treatments at hospitals in four different centers in north
Gujarat.
In Mumbai the Hinduja hospital, Lilavati hospital, K.E.M. hospital have more than 350 serious
patients admitted for specialised treatments. Industrialist Shri Vimal Kedia and Shri Vasantrao
Tambey (Maharashtra prachar prakumh) are personally supervising the work.
The relief Work
There has been a large inflow of all kinds of food stuff as well as shelter from all over the country.
To mention a few, Alirajpur Sewa Bharati has sent blankets and tents. From Mumbai 2000 tannest
have been received. Akola urban Bank has sent 8 truck loads of rise, dal, jagari, as well as
blankets. Two and a half tones of dal has been received from Madhya Pradesh. Similar aid
continues to pour in.
Future plan
A number of children who have lost their parents or atleast one of them need to be rehabilitated.
Similarly many old men and women are rendered destitute. An orphanage for these children and an
old age-home for the old are to be set up.
Number of severely affected villages will be adopted for overall development and complete
rehabilitation work through our various organisations.
Presently *House hold kits will be distributed all over in places where out work is in progress.
There is also an urgent need of tents blankets and daries to provide temporary shelter.
It needs to be stressed that the overall sympathy and support of the society at large has been
beyond our imaginations and exceptions.
We therefore appeal that liberal donations for this humanitarian cause be made in the name of
Bhookamp Pidit Sahayata Nidhi (**Sewa Bharati Gujarat) which enjoys Income tax exemption.
Dedication of swayamsevaks
It came to light that Shri Devshibhai Bhalodia who is the Taluka sanghachalak of Jodia ran for help
even though his own house had collapsed. The Kutchh Jilla sanghchalak Shri Chamanlala Kansara
lost his daughter in the house collapsed still he came out for helping others. There were many more
such cases which can be cited at. At Bhatar road in Surat the Harekrishna complex collapsed.
Karyakartas who found valuables worth around 80 lakhs handed that amount over to the
respective owners. Over 25,000 Swayamsevaks are engaged at various places. 16 persons
residing on the sixth floor of Mansi Apt. at Karnavati were rescued by Shri Ashok Chawda with
the help of a rope.
**Address: Shri Vallabhbhai Savalia(Secretary Sewa Bharati Gujarat)
Dr. Hedgewar Bhavan,
Baliya Kaka Bhavan,
Karnavati 380 028.
Tel.: (079)532 6131-32 Fax: 0091 79 532 6032