IINDIA EARTHQUAKE UPDATE #4
19:15 HRS, 27 January, 2001

CURRENT SITUATION

1. About 10,000 are reported to be dead in the earthquake that struck Gujarat on 26th January, it is expected that the death toll may cross 10,000. 6,000 feared dead in Bhuj alone. The figure will probably go up as more bodies are retrieved from the rubble.
   (click image for larger version)
   

2. 14,000 reported to be injured in Gujarat. 150 Security personnel reported dead.

3. Bhuj, Ahemdabad city, Rajkot and Patan are worst affected.

4. Communications via satellite being restored. 1100 phone lines restored in Bhuj so far.

5. A team of 200 surgeons sent to affected areas.

6. As per available information from Police Control Room of Gujarat, the extent of damage is as under:

   Gujarat	Number of persons
   	Dead	Injured
   Ahmedabad city Ahmedabad rural Amreli Anand Baroda rural Bharuch Bhavnagar Bhuj Gandhinagar Jamnagar Junagadh Kheda Mehsana Navsari Palanpur Patan Porbandar Rajkot city Rajkot rural Surat city Surat rural Surendranagar Western Railway(Baroda) TOTAL	353 4 - 5 1 9 2 1451 3 91 7 - - 7 26 29 7 3 226 34 - 78 5 2341*	708 15 10 10 - 33 29 10072 7 664 69 17 41 17 28 191 42 95 1258 128 4 713 42 14193*
   *No Further update from Control Room of Gujarat.

7. Massive oil slick at Kandla Port affecting operations at the oil terminal at Kandla port.

8. The worst affected areas in Ahemdabad city are highlighted in the map below:
   

1. State Governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka have sent medical / para-medial personnel by air. In addition truckloads of relief material including blankets are being sent to Gujarat.
2. 17 doctors from PGI Chandigarh and 10 medical personnel from Safdargung Hospital Delhi have rushed to Gujarat. 12 doctors from AIIMS reaching Gujarat today.
3. Mobile operation theatre, engineering equipment and heavy-duty generators, bulldozers, trench digging and lifting equipment have also reached Bhuj.
4. The Army has established a VSAT lilnk between New Delhi and Ahemdabad. The Army's relief operation is being coordinated bya Disaster Mangement Control Room at the Directorate General of Minilatry Operations (DGMO)
5. 30 doctors on 26 January and 70 doctors on January 27, 2001from Maharashtra have reached Bhuj by air.
6. The Central Minister for Health, Secretary Health and Additional DG (Health Services) have left for Gujarat today.
7. Supplies for medicines in large quantities arranged.
8. Dept. of Food and Public Distribution issued orders for release of 1 lakh tonnes of wheat and 10,000 tonnes of levy sugar to Gujarat. Food packets are also being arranged.
9. Joint Secretary National Disaster Management, and Additional Central Relief Commisioner, GoI camping at Bhuj to supervise relief / rehabilitation.
10. Efforts being made to send 1 lakh blankets to the affected areas.
11. Relief material comprising heavy vehicles, tents, tarpaulin, tent store water tankers have been sent to Bhuj and Ahemdabad.
12. All Border Security Force (BSF) in Gujarat directed to provide needful assistance, tents medicines and water tankers.
13. Helpline nos.
    • in Gandhinagar are (02712) 51911-17
    • in Bhuj is (02832) 50444
    • in Ahemdabad is (079) 5630200

UN SYSTEM ACTIONS

1. The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has expressed his condolences to the families affected by the Gujarat Earthquake. Mr. Annan said "UN stands ready to support the government's rescue efforts in any way that the government deems appropriate".
2. A UNDMT team comprising UNDMT Officer-in-Charge and WHO personnel have already reached Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The UNICEF State Office at Gujarat is facilitating and co-ordinating with the team. UNFPA personnel will later today join the rapid assessment team.
3. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has dispatched a five-member Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to India. The would be travelling to Ahemdabad on Monday, 29 January 2001.
4. The UN has received a list of medical supplies, drugs and resuscitation kits required from the Control Room in Gujarat.

ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

1. UK pledges 3 million pounds for Gujarat relief.
2. Norway extends emergency aid worth USD 1.11million
3. Netherlands announces USD 420,00 for quake victims.
4. US Ambassador to India announces assistance of USD 25,000 for Gujarat.

MEDIA REPORTS

• Officials at a command center said more than 300, were dead in Ahmadabad, more than 650 in Anjar, about 1,400 in Bhuj, as well as 87 dead in Jamnagar, 147 dead in Rajkot, 55 dead in Suranagar, and 53 dead in Surat.
• In Pakistan, between 8 and 15 deaths were reported.
• Industries not affected by the earthquake.
• General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army Southern Command, Lt. Gen. N C Viz has been stationed in Bhuj to oversee rescue and relief operations.