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'They were lucky, sheer lucky'

Josy Joseph in Ahmedabad

Gaurav, a marketing executive with Torrent Pharmaceuticals, looked relaxed as he boarded the Delhi-Ahmedabad flight. He slept through most of the journey, which was delayed by half an hour since Ahmedabad airport was prioritising rescue planes and helicopters.

Looking at him, one would not realise that, two days before the killer quake, he had taken leave from his firm in Ahmedabad and headed home to Delhi for the long Republic Day weekend. "I was lucky," he says of his providential escape. "I called up a few friends, they all are fine. But I don't know what has happened to the others."

Narendra Garg, another passenger, can't help sharing his excitement -- his elder brother and family have survived the quake. His brother, who is based in Gandhidham, uses the ports of Gujarat to import timber. "They were lucky, sheer lucky," says the 30-something Garg.

Mostly, though, the Jet Airways flight -- which is packed to capacity with reporters, relatives who have family in Gujarat and international volunteers -- is unusually quiet

On the ground, the desperate rescue efforts continue. Seven international flights -- from Britain, France, Switzerland, Turkey and Germany -- laden with aid materials have already landed in Gujarat. Another plane from Israel is expected to arrive today.

Indian NGOs, too, are pouring into the state. Some have a strategy; others don't. Take, for example, the four-member team of the Delhi-based NGO, Friendicoes. They have arrived in Ahmedabad with over 300 kgs of medicine. "We started off with whatever we could collect," says a Friendicoes member, even as his companions search for a way to reach Bhuj.

The Complete Coverage

OTHER SITES WITH INFORMATION
ON THE GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE:
panjokutch.com
kutchinfo.com
ahmedabad.com

EXTERNAL LINKS
The RD Killer Quake of Jan 26, 2001: Technical details
All about earthquakes in India and their impact
India Meteorological Department's earthquake reports
Disaster relief set-up in India
Major earthquakes across the world in recent times
A post-quake volunteer's unusual tryst with the departed
Earthquake News: Web site offering comprehensive news, information and features
Earthquake site map
USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program

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