On the morning of January 26, 2001 an earthquake which registered at 6.9 on the Ritcher scale forever changed the lives of the people in the Gujarat region of the country. The official preliminary report on the earthquake ("http://www.gujaratindia.com/preliminary....") estimates that over 100,000 buildings have been completely destroyed, with power and water supplies have been disrupted across the Kutch region.
As for the death toll, Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes is reiterating his belief that it could be as high as 100,000 deaths. "My own assessment was that the toll could go as high as 100,000 if my worst fears come true," Fernandes said ("http://sg.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/..."). He continued, "there is no change in my view on this...I stand by my own assessment but I will be the happiest man if this does not come true ... but I am afraid the figure will come to that."
The American Red Cross is just one of many organisations rushing to organise aid efforts for victims of the earthquake who have lost families and homes. A seven member relief team from the organisation has flown to India ("http://in.news.yahoo.com/010203/20/iy45...."), along with $185,000 in aid. Much needed "medical kits containing IV fluids, surgical instruments and other treatment aids" were also rushed to the region, amidst fears that an epidemic could be the next disaster to follow on from the earthquake ("http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/02...") due to the sheer number of decomposing bodies still trapped in the rubble of destroyed homes, businesses and other buildings.
Despite the World Health Organisation playing down fears of an epidemic, the Home Minister of Gujurat, Haren Pandya, believes that there is a real problem; "In such situations, there is a threat of epidemic because lots of bodies are still lying under the debris" (http://in.news.yahoo.com/010201/64/iprq.... In addition to the despair, fresh tremors have sparked fears that another - potentially worse - earthquake may not be far away ("http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/so... The citizens of Gujurat and those helping around the world pray that the worst is behind them, but with disasters of this scale there is no real warning before the event.
Bodies continue to be pulled from the mass wreck of stone and rubble. However, One couple miraculously managed to survive to be rescued five days after the earthquake initially occurred ("http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/art..."). Villagers all across the region face grave difficulties returning to any sort of normal life. Those who are now homeless may not have the money needed to buy a new house; many survivors have found themselves the sole living member of their families. The turmoil of the earthquake may have already struck, but the personal turmoil and despair of the citizens involved threatens to be just as great ("http://www.latimes.com/news/asection/200..."). Communities are pulling together in the face of adversity; to collect belongings ("http://in.news.yahoo.com/010201/20/iqxw....") from the debris, to help each other come to terms with what has happened and also to assist the task of digging out the many trapped bodies.
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