Amid rain, more quakes and strong winds … Council of Gujarat to erect 50 temporary abodes

Rain, more quakes and strong winds have been the aftermath after the recent devastating earthquake. Tents that were earlier provided by the Council of Gujarat to afflicted areas are not strong enough to offer adequate protection and the Council has now sent a team led by President Ghulubhai Bhurani with building materials including corrugated sheets for roofing, timber, doors, lamps and mattresses to erect about 50 temporary houses in the region.

The Indian Government has meanwhile allocated land for the building of temporary shelters. It is planned to erect 10 temporary houses in Mariya Mian, 14 in Nagalpur and 24 in Bhuj.

The visiting relief team, like its predecessors, has also taken along foodstuff, drinking water and medical supplies to be distributed to our brethren and others afflicted in the region.

       Fresh tremors continue to haunt people in Bhuj

Aftershocks continued to shake the residents of Gujarat State on Wednesday, which received, as many as 11 tremors measuring more than 3.0 on the Richter scale in Bhuj district.  The quakes measuring 3.3 to 4.7 were recorded in the worst affected Bhuj district in Gujarat.

Officials say Bhuj, which was the epicentre of Friday's devastating earthquake, recorded the first quake of 3.7 magnitude at 0259 hours. The last quake of 3.4 magnitude was recorded at 1837 hours, they said.  An earthquake of 4.7 intensity, which was recorded at 1512 hours, has been of maximum intensity so far.

As many as 120 aftershocks measuring more than three on the Richter scale have been recorded in and around the district so far. The observatory is recording only quakes over 3.0 and the state could be witnessing more quakes less than 3.0 intensity.

Meanwhile, as Ahmedabad appeared limping back to normal on Wednesday, a tremor in the afternoon created panic among people who ran out of their homes, offices and establishments.

As the tremor, which shook buildings, was felt, people screamed out to their colleagues and neighbours to run out for safety.

Business establishments immediately pulled down the shutters and people came out in the open.

Earlier in the day, life looked like returning to normal with shops and business establishments opening after a closure for almost five days and traffic was as usual.

Though schools and other educational institutions have been closed till February 4, attendance was more than half in private and government offices and banks till people left in panic after the tremor at around 1510 hours.