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Officials grapple with preventing epidemic

With hopes of finding any more survivors in the rubble fading down after five days of the killer earthquake in Gujarat, authorities are now grappling with the gargantuan task of disposal of thousands of bodies to thwart the onset of epidemics.

Officials braced themselves up to dig out more and more bodies that may take the death toll well beyond the official figure of 20,000.

Hints of the rising toll was given on Tuesday evening itself when Minister of State for Home and Information Haren Pandya had, during press briefings, admitted that the toll could cross the 20,000 mark.

Defence Minister George Fernandes, who toured Bhuj two days ago, had on Tuesday said in New Delhi that the toll could even skyrocket to one lakh.

However, the Gujarat government had described it as Mr Fernandes's ''personal assessment''.

Meanwhile, nearly 40 deaths were reported in the Indian Air Force colony at Bhuj. Similarly, in the Army and BSF colonies, deaths had been reported. Gandhidham also reported nearly 250 fresh deaths.

With hundreds of vultures descending on the quake-hit Kutch district, especially the Anjaar town, and decomposition of bodies, a heavy stench pervades the affected areas.

The primary task before the state government officials, the Army, police forces and other agencies involved in the massive relief effort is to extricate the bodies from the huge piles of rubble, the only sight one can catch in the affected areas.

Thousands of bodies have been recovered from various areas and mass cremations held, but many more remain buried as earth moving machines like cranes and bulldozers are finding it difficult to wade through the debris of innumerable collapsed houses.

In the most-affected old Bhuj area, it is difficult for the cranes and bulldozers to go through the small lanes. There is an urgent need for masks and hand gloves and the state government has been virtually caught napping to tackle the situation. Only few Army personnel and activists of voluntary agencies, besides the foreign experts, are equipped with the gear.

UNI

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