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Cyclone claims 376 lives in Gujarat

At least 376 people were killed and hundreds others injured, as toll figures in the last two days' cyclone-related causes continued to mount in Gujarat today. The initial losses estimated by the state government ran up to a huge Rs 12 billion, excluding those at the Kandla port in Kutch district off the Arabian Sea.

Briefing newspersons in Gandhinagar, minister of state for home and border security Haren Pandya, however, denied reports circulating in certain quarters that the death toll could be as high as 5000 to 7000 in Kutch district alone where the intensity of the killer cyclone turned out to be the maximum.

Giving break-up of the toll figures available officially until 4.30 pm today, Pandya said of the 376 deaths, as many as 276 had occurred in Kutch district alone and of these 218 at Kandla. Besides, 43 persons lost their lives in Jamnagar, 32 in Rajkot, 12 in Porbandar, four at Junagadh, two at Banaskantha and Surat each and one each in Amreli, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Valsad and Navsari districts.

Besides, he said, at least 150 people were described as missing at different places.

The cyclone, which originated in the Arabian Sea and swept through Gujarat yesterday, packing squally wind of 150-200 kmph, was now moving towards Churu district in Rajasthan without hitting Jaipur and continuously weakening to turn into a deep depression.

An official report said the highest toll of 140 was reported from Kutch district of Gujarat, followed by Jamnagar (40), Porbandar (10), Rajkot (nine), Junagarh (four), Bhavnagar and Banaskantha (two each) and Surat, Bharuch, Valsad and Navsari (one each).

Members of both houses of Parliament paid homage to those killed in the devastating storm. Union Home Minister L K Advani will visit the affected areas of Gujarat tomorrow.

A central assistance of Rs 12.35 million was announced for Gujarat from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund while Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal pledged Rs 2.5 millionfor the cyclone victims.

The storm also hit the eastern part of Pakistan, killing at least 15, a report from Karachi said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, Industry Minister Suresh Mehta and Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala today went on an aerial survey of the Kutch area where the fury of the cyclone appeared to be the maximum.

In all, 34 talukas (tehsils) of arid Kutch, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Banaskantha, Surat, Bharuch and Valsad districts were hit by the cyclone.

The worst affected districts are Kutch, Jamnagar and Porbandar.

A UNI report from Jamnagar said 1100 hundred people had been hospitalised in the western coastal city. Of these, at least 85 were seriously injured, Irwin Hospital superintendent Dr Oza said.

Indian Air Force helicopters were waiting for the reports of an aerial survey conducted by another chopper to start dropping food packets in the affected areas. The food packets were being contributed by Reliance Petro Chemicals Ltd, the Jamnagar Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club, among others, the report said.

A UNI report from Bhuj said besides the deaths, at least 62 people were reported missing.

Unconfirmed reports said those who died and were missing numbered around 150 each. The major port of Kandla had suffered huge losses, to the tune of about Rs 5 billion, and officials said it would take them at least two months to make it functional again.

In Bhuj, the radio tower of All India Radio has been destroyed by the cyclone and a village, Sarva, with a population of nearly 2500, was reportedly swept away. Those feared dead included many children, while many of the survivors were seen rushing for safety towards Bhuj city. The famous date-palm farm, the only one in India that used to professionally produce exportable date, has been totally destroyed.

In Jamnagar, several areas were still inaccessible as the cyclone had uprooted hundreds of trees and poles. Even the police communication network and wireless sets have collapsed. In Sikka town, the 132 KV thermal power station in Jamnagar district has been severely damaged.

A UNI report from Rajkot said the district witnessed utter confusion in the aftermath of the cyclone yesterday, as the entire communication and electricity network had been thrown out of gear, isolating this nerve-centre of Kutch and Saurashtra. Local newspapers, therefore, predicted the death toll between 60 60 and 600, as they struggled to gather facts and keep their generators functioning in the midst of total darkness and confusion that enveloped the area.

In Rajasthan, four deaths were reported after a survey to assess damage was on at various places, even as the cyclonic storm turned into a deep depression, heading towards Churu district without hitting Jaipur.

Weather office director S S Singh told UNI that the storm was likely to weaken further.

Arun Kumar said the epicentre of the storm was lying in Sambhar region of Jaipur district this evening. However, it had diverted its earlier route and moved towards Churu district without hitting Jaipur.

UNI

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