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'A cohesive society has become a buffer against fear'

Sheela Bhatt in Bhuj

For R D Sinha (name changed), the earthquake has brought hope.

The schizophrenia-afflicted patient at the Hospital for Mental Health in Bhuj -- who murdered two inmates in October 2000 -- started behaving normally for the first time in several years after the devastating tremors of January 26.

"He, who had killed two patients with the wooden leg of a bed, not only helped to get others out of the collapsed hospital, but also entered the debris to retrieve some water, utensils and other hospital equipment to set up a temporary kitchen outside," says Dr Mahesh Tilwani, who is in charge of the hospital.

Sinha also retrieved other essentials like oil, salt and bed sheets.

The patients were kept within the compound walls of the mental hospital for three days without any help from outside.

Of the 13 hospital inmates, six have been taken away by their relatives and the rest shifted to the Ahmedabad Mental Hospital. Two died under the debris. "Stone slabs fell on them. The other inmates tried to pull them out, but they could not save them," adds Dr Tilwani.

Most of Dr Tilwani's patients were suffering with schizophrenia and have remained in the 45-year-old hospital building between three and 10 years. "Such patients mainly have a problem in coming to terms with reality," he explains.

Assessing the human fallout of the tragedy, the doctor said most trauma victims suffer from acute stress disorder. The loss and lack of shelter is and will become the greatest cause of stress. He has referred a 65-year-old man, who was getting recurring experiences of the tremors and hearing screams around him, to a hospital.

Another woman, hailing from Madras, was suffering post trauma disorder and could not get the fear out of her mind. She too was hospitalised.

"Because this is a cohesive society, where almost everyone knows each other, the people are united in their grief. This has provided them a buffer against fear and uncertainty. But this itself could become a problem six months later," says Dr Tilwani.

He further added that people were under the impression that the government will rebuild their homes and relief supplies will continue till they are re-established. "This assumption will create a big problem," he says.

In Ahmedabad, Dr Ganpat Vankar is preparing a manual of psycho-social counselling. The manual will serve as a guide to train people to deal with the Kutch earthquake victims

The Complete Coverage | List of earthquake sites

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