Latest happenings from the India quake- situations. Struggling to cope with the devastation wrought by the quake, Jammu and Kashmir government today intensified its relief operations by...
Struggling to cope with the devastation wrought by the quake, Jammu and Kashmir government today intensified its relief operations by pressing more policemen into the exercise while the Air Force began air dropping food packets and water bottles in the ravaged unreached areas as the toll crossed 800.
In addition to the army`s largest peacetime rescue and rehabilitation exercise in the state called "Operation Imdad" or help, Air Force undertook seven sorties to worst-affected Kupwara and Baramulla districts and dropped food packets and water bottles, Chief Secretary Vijau Bakaya said admitting that 14 villages in Tangdhar remained inaccessible on the third day after the tragedy struck.
Amidst protests from hapless victims, Bakaya said the government was making all out efforts to approach the unreached areas and air force would air drop food and water on a regular basis to these areas from today.
The state government has already pitched 1900 tents in the worst hit Uri and Tangdhar sectors where the damage in terms of people killed, injured or property was immense as it was closest to the epicenter of the quake in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir capital of Muzaffarabad.
According to Bakaya, over 755 people - 735 in Kashmir valley and 20 in Jammu - were killed and 2413 injured and nearly 4600 houses damaged across the state. This was apart from the 50 soldiers and paramilitary personnel, who according to Union Home Ministry had been killed in Saturday`s quake.
Assuring all possible help to the thousands rendered homeless in the "shortest possible time," Bakaya acknowledged that the magnitude of task was big and "we are in need of 15,000 more tents to provide shelter to affected families."
"We are making arrangements for procuring these tents and 5,000 are expected to reach by this evening," he said, adding that they would be immediately rushed to Uri and Tangdhar regions.
Defending reports that government had failed to reach many affected areas, he said while the army could be spotted due to its uniform, the efforts of civil administration officials "doing much more service often goes unnoticed".
However, he quickly added that the armed forces and civil authorities are working in coordination to meet the challenge and reach the distressed people in every nook and corner of the state.
He said deputy commissioners and senior administration officials had fanned out to reach the people and medical teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to attend to the injured.
Twenty-one teams of doctors are working round the clock in Uri and Tangdhar sectors since yesterday and 15 ambulances have been deployed in these areas which was in addition to the medical assistance being provided by armed forces in these areas, he said.
Echoing the sentiments of Bakaya, Director General of State Police Gopal Sharma termed as "unfortunate" the complaints that government was not providing adequate help to the affected villages.
The European Union has offered assistance to India in providing relief to earthquake victims in Jammu and Kashmir.
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso in a message to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was "profoundly shocked" to hear of Saturday's terrible earthquake that hit parts of India, notably Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"The European Commission stands ready to help and has offered assistance to all concerned countries. Let me also stress my personal appreciation of the support you immediately extended to your neighboring country," the message said.
EU Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in a message to India's External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said "In this moment of sorrow, let me assure you of all the sympathy and support of the European Commission."
"The European Commission stands ready to help and has offered assistance to all concerned countries," she said.
The European Commission said yesterday it is sending an initial 3.6 million euro in emergency aid for the victims of the devastating quake in Pakistan.
By Vipin Agnihotri
Published: 10/10/2005
Japan earthquake, tsunami kill hundreds - CBS News
assive waves sweep inland after 8.9 magnitude quake, the largest in Japan's recorded history.
In addition to the army`s largest peacetime rescue and rehabilitation exercise in the state called "Operation Imdad" or help, Air Force undertook seven sorties to worst-affected Kupwara and Baramulla districts and dropped food packets and water bottles, Chief Secretary Vijau Bakaya said admitting that 14 villages in Tangdhar remained inaccessible on the third day after the tragedy struck.
Amidst protests from hapless victims, Bakaya said the government was making all out efforts to approach the unreached areas and air force would air drop food and water on a regular basis to these areas from today.
The state government has already pitched 1900 tents in the worst hit Uri and Tangdhar sectors where the damage in terms of people killed, injured or property was immense as it was closest to the epicenter of the quake in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir capital of Muzaffarabad.
According to Bakaya, over 755 people - 735 in Kashmir valley and 20 in Jammu - were killed and 2413 injured and nearly 4600 houses damaged across the state. This was apart from the 50 soldiers and paramilitary personnel, who according to Union Home Ministry had been killed in Saturday`s quake.
Assuring all possible help to the thousands rendered homeless in the "shortest possible time," Bakaya acknowledged that the magnitude of task was big and "we are in need of 15,000 more tents to provide shelter to affected families."
"We are making arrangements for procuring these tents and 5,000 are expected to reach by this evening," he said, adding that they would be immediately rushed to Uri and Tangdhar regions.
Defending reports that government had failed to reach many affected areas, he said while the army could be spotted due to its uniform, the efforts of civil administration officials "doing much more service often goes unnoticed".
However, he quickly added that the armed forces and civil authorities are working in coordination to meet the challenge and reach the distressed people in every nook and corner of the state.
He said deputy commissioners and senior administration officials had fanned out to reach the people and medical teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to attend to the injured.
Twenty-one teams of doctors are working round the clock in Uri and Tangdhar sectors since yesterday and 15 ambulances have been deployed in these areas which was in addition to the medical assistance being provided by armed forces in these areas, he said.
Echoing the sentiments of Bakaya, Director General of State Police Gopal Sharma termed as "unfortunate" the complaints that government was not providing adequate help to the affected villages.
The European Union has offered assistance to India in providing relief to earthquake victims in Jammu and Kashmir.
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso in a message to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was "profoundly shocked" to hear of Saturday's terrible earthquake that hit parts of India, notably Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"The European Commission stands ready to help and has offered assistance to all concerned countries. Let me also stress my personal appreciation of the support you immediately extended to your neighboring country," the message said.
EU Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in a message to India's External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said "In this moment of sorrow, let me assure you of all the sympathy and support of the European Commission."
"The European Commission stands ready to help and has offered assistance to all concerned countries," she said.
The European Commission said yesterday it is sending an initial 3.6 million euro in emergency aid for the victims of the devastating quake in Pakistan.
By Vipin Agnihotri
Published: 10/10/2005
Japan earthquake, tsunami kill hundreds - CBS News
assive waves sweep inland after 8.9 magnitude quake, the largest in Japan's recorded history.
