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Bhachau schoolgirls cremated en masse

Josy Joseph in Bhachau

At first it was thought that the early morning Republic Day functions had saved many lives in Gujarat's earthquake tragedy. But as the rescue and relief measures progress, it is becoming clear that probably as many lost their lives as owed their survival to the occasion.

Thus, it now emerges that in a tragedy reminiscent of Anjaar's, some 100 schoolgirls were buried alive in a narrow lane in the main bazaar of Old Bhachau when buildings on both sides caved in on a prabhat pheri (dawn parade) of students of the Government Girls School.

The bodies of 44 girls, two teachers and a peon were recovered from the rubble in the main street and of 26 other girls from under a beam in the school building over the past two days.

All the bodies were piled onto three cremation pyres in the main bazaar on Thursday and given a mass funeral.

The Complete Coverage | List of earthquake sites

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