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 Previous: Club 2000 Achievement Awards Go To Four Outstanding Clubs! |  Next: N9GL's RF Safety Column: The Pendulum Swings |
NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 29, 2001--Indian Amateur Horey Majumdar, VU2HFR, in Calcutta reports that the death toll in the wake of the January 26 earthquake in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat stands at 20,000 and continues to rise. Aftershocks are causing panic among residents in the affected region, and another one measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale hit Sunday morning.
Majumdar says DX QRM on 20 meters has hampered the handling of Amateur Radio traffic on 14.155 and 14.160 MHz. "VU hams would be grateful if DX stations could keep the frequency clear," he said. "Cooperation and consideration from DX stations would be much appreciated," Majumdar said.
The US and India do not have a third-party traffic agreement, and no plans have been announced at this point to seek a suspension of that arrangement to permit message traffic via Amateur Radio between the two countries. Other routes, possibly involving the use of e-mail and the Internet, may be developed, but nothing is in place at this time.
A request to provide some elbow room for emergency traffic at 14.160 MHz also came from Director and Executive Vice Chairman S. Suri, VU2MY, of the National Institute of Amateur Radio in India (VU2NRO), which is involved in the disaster response. NIAR also mentioned 7.023 MHz, which is less likely to be an issue for US amateurs. Glenn Johnson, W0GJ/A52GJ in Bhutan, says Indian authorities also are asking for clearance of several frequencies between 14.250 and 14.270 MHz. Other frequencies mentioned include 14.135.
Majumdar says Rajesh, VU2FCY, as well as Ram, VU2LIC, Praveen, VU2XMX, Ravi, VU3RBN, Mohan, VU2MYH, and Dipak, VU2DCD, are among the stations monitored on 20 and 40 meters. Several of the stations are attached to the NIAR response team. Also heard was Amateur Radio Society of India General Secretary Adolf Shepherd, VU2AF. Among those operating from the NIAR club station in Hyderabad were Jos, VU2JOS, Suri, VU2MY, and Ram, VU3DJQ. Majumdar said there's a lot of emergency activity on VHF as well. "Stations all across India are participating in the emergency traffic," he said, "checking into the net frequencies and relaying information."
He reports another 18 hams have headed to the disaster zone in separate groups from Mumbai (Bombay) and Bangalore. In addition, he said, Sandeep, VU3SCE, accompanied by 10 orthopedic physicians, was on his way by air to the stricken city of Ahmedabad. A group of 20 hams also was air dropped into Bhuj, the worst-hit city.
"Hams all across the country are contributing in what is one of the worst national calamities ever," Majumdar said.
B. L. Manohar, VU2UR, in Bangalore said over the weekend that telephone service, electrical power and other basic amenities still were not available in many of the severely affected cities, so health-and-welfare telephone inquiries might not be possible at this point. Manohar reported that amateur stations were expected to be on the air from Bhuj, Ahmedabad, New Delhi (Gujarat Bhavan) and other areas.
"The TV and other media are giving extensive coverage worldwide, whereas the amateur coverage can only be heard by those with good antenna systems from DX lands," he said. "The memories of the Super Cyclone of Orissa are still fresh with us, and the amateurs have to prove their capabilities again, and they are doing their best."
Manohar said the real disaster struck in Gujarat when Indians were preparing for the start of the 52nd Republic Day parade in New Delhi. "It was a severe shock," he said. "The epicenter was reported at 20 km northeast of Bhuj city, and the magnitude was reported to be 7.9 on the Richter scale."
He said a frenzy of amateur activity began around 0530 UTC on January 26, when 14.155 became very active. 7035,7050,14135,14155 ,14160 and 14260 kHz respectively. Stations from Baroda VU2WWX,VU2KIZ,Bhavanagar VU2FCY, Rajkot VU2JF, Valsad VU2SL were QRV. OM Zoravar VU2HBZ was also there. VU2YW was active on HF from Ahmedabad in the evening hours.
Pat McPherson, WW9E, of the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network--or SATERN--reports that Salvation Army disaster relief teams are on the scene of the earthquake. "The Salvation Army is providing vital assistance to survivors and rescue workers in western India," he said. The organization is providing food, clothing, shelter and counseling to survivors and their families.
| Previous: Club 2000 Achievement Awards Go To Four Outstanding Clubs! | Next: N9GL's RF Safety Column: The Pendulum Swings |
