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Flow of tourists, devotees to cyclone-hit Gujarat dwindles to a trickle

The flow of tourists and devotees has been severely affected in the aftermath of the killer cyclone that hit the western coast of Gujarat last fortnight, claiming more than 1,000 lives and destroying properties worth hundreds of millions of rupees.

As major business and tourist centres along the Saurashtra coast and Kutch region in the state grapple with problems of total breakdown of power and water supply, damaged telecommunication and road links and outbreak of epidemics, the famous temples of Dwarka and Somnath and tourist spots like the Gir lion sanctuary have hardly seen any visitors during the past ten days.

According to Ramesh Joshi, a tour operator in Jamnagar, all hotels and guest houses were empty with no business for the past ten days while chartered buses and tourist taxis plying to these places were nowhere to be seen, even though rail and road links were restored 72 hours after the storm subsided.

The famous Krishna temple at Dwarka, that attracts over 5,000 visitors daily, hardly received a devotee during this period, he said.

According to official figures, 1,167 people were killed while 1,800 more have been listed missing in the state. A massive workforce of 40,000 spread over 3,000 small-scale units in Jamnagar's two industrial estates are jobless because power supply is yet to be resumed in the area.

The official death toll in Jamnagar district -- put at 182 -- was likely to go up as 18 fishermen, who sailed from Salaya Port on the fateful day are yet to return.

However, Irwin hospital medical superintendent Dr J J Oza denied reports of widespread diahorrea and likelihood of breakout of cholera, saying only four such cases were detected at an early stage and the patients were discharged after treatment.

Restoration work in the cyclone-affected ports has been taken up on a war-footing and dry cargo handling is scheduled to start from tomorrow, sources said.

Out of five dry cargo berths to be used, one berth each would be earmarked for container, import wheat and export rice vessels and the remaining allotted equally to export and import vessels, they said.

The Kandla Port Trust authorities were engaged in cleaning the cargo jetty area, draining out and disinfecting water logged areas, besides super-chlorination of drinking water.

Meanwhile, 5,344 metric tonnes of wheat from inside the port had been delivered to Food Corporation of India out of which 440 MT was segregated as unfit for human consumption, a Port Trust statement said.

The medical teams were conducting house to house surveys and educating the people about precautions to avert health crisis, besides providing medical attention free of cost. In view of the recommissioning of the cargo jetties, sufficient steps were being taken for providing safe drinking water and hygienic environment for the workers.

The KPT has taken concrete steps for the rehabilitation of cyclone victims, work for which is being carried out in two phases. In the first phase, temporary accommodation will be constructed and provided to the victims in the shortest possible time and in the second phase, pucca houses will be allotted to them.

The preparation of ground and construction of temporary sheds have already commenced to accommodate about 2,000 families. In addition to accommodation, basic amenities like electricity, water supply, drainage system and medical facilities will be provided in these centres.

Many voluntary organisations and agencies have come forward to extend assistance to accomplish this rehabilitation programme, it added.

Meanwhile, the ongoing work at the Reliance refinery and integrated petrochemicals complex -- the largest grassroot construction site in the world today -- has resumed with almost 50,000 workers back on the site. The Reliance group is investing Rs 22 billion in the 7,500 acre complex in which a 18 MMTA refinery, three MMTA petrochemicals, 423 MW captive power plant, and India's largest private sector port will be built.

Pre-emptive damage control measures had been taken in the complex as soon as the meteorological warning was received. Many of the vulnerable structures and equipment had been dismantled and moved to safety.

UNI

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