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Indian Hams Assist in Quake's Wake
NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 26, 2001--Amateurs in India have begun responding in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake January 25 in the State of Gujarat in Western India. Horey Majumdar, VU2HFR, reports the quake measured at least 6.9 on the Richter Scale. Tremors were felt in neighboring Pakistan as well as in all of northern and western India and as far away as Nepal.
"The worst affected area is Bhuj, about which very little is known as all communication links are down and roads and bridges damaged, sealing off the entire area," Majumdar said. "Official reports speak about 1000 casualties in the State of Gujarat."
Casualty figures were expected to increase. Some 300 to 400 casualties have been reported in Ahmedabad, which was severely affected along with other cities such as Gandhinagar and Surat. Majumdar says all telephone links are down in Gujarat.
Majumdar says VU2YW has been on the air from Ahmedabad and VU2SL is operating from Valsad, some 300 km from Ahmedabad. "There are still no links from Bhuj," he said. Since the disaster took place in western India, many hams from Mumbai (Bombay) in the neigboring state of Maharashtra are moving into the affected area, Majumdar said.
"We have heard that a team from Bombay will reach Ahmedabad today at 2 AM Indian time, and teams from the National Institute of Amateur Radio are expected to move in tomorrow afternoon," he said. Stations were monitored today on 14.155 MHz.
Majumdar said that because today is Republic Day--a national holiday--and government offices and business are closed, many are just becoming aware of the situation as the news has begun trickling in.
"Here in Calcutta the Calcutta VHF Amateur Radio Society has already started its Calcutta Amateur Radio Control to cater to anxious relatives and friends who are desperate to hear about the well-being of their near and dear ones," he said. Right now, much is still unknown, and ham radio remains among the primary information links with the affected region.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and will act accordingly as the situation demands," Majumdar said.
Page last modified: 03:14 PM, 26 Jan 2001 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2001, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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