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Fernandes, Tipnis rush to Gujarat

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Union Defence Minister George Fernandes and Air Force Chief Marshall A Y Tipnis have rushed to Ahmedabad and Bhuj respectively, following Friday's earthquake.

The damage at the air force station at Bhuj is believed to be much greater than originally thought. According to sources, 150 Indian Air Force men have died, but there is no official confirmation of it.

The army has moved in two divisions, besides five batallions and troops already stationed there, for rescue operations. On Friday night, Army chief S Padmanbahan ordered a division of the Desert Corps in Gujarat, near the Pakistan border, to join rescue operations.

The army has set up a special operation cell at the military operation unit, at the headquarters in Bhuj.

This defence mobilisation is one of the biggest in its history. According to sources, the number of troops, equipment and aircraft involved would be higher than the Kargil operation.

Reports from Bhuj said that an air force plane based at Bhuj had been destroyed.

The Coast Guard has also been mobilised to contain an oil spillage in Kutch. The earthquake has damaged an oil reservoir in Kutch, which it is feared could result in a major ecological disaster.

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The RD Killer Quake of Jan 26, 2001: Technical details
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