Editorial

Rising From the Rubble

As the country was celebrating the 52nd Republic Day, the Earth shook violently in Gujarat sending tremors all over the country and all the way to Nepal and China. The cities and villages that stood testimony for centuries to the vicissitudes of history were reduced to a heap of rubble during those fateful two minutes. Even the cities far from the epicentre - Ahmedabad (300 kms) and Surat (400 kms) were not spared. Besides the thousands of human lives lost, the loss to livestock, property, houses and structures was enormous. Those who survived were not too fortunate either. Their world has completely changed.

The first phase of providing immediate relief in the form of shelter, food, medical treatment, clearing the debris, providing potable water, and fuel etc. would be completed in near future. Despite sympathies, and relief reaching them from all over the country and different parts of the world, it would be a long time, probably years before those affected could be successfully rehabilitated. The fear-psychosis and the trauma that have gripped the survivors, revival of their confidence in themselves, construction of earthquake-proof houses, continuing medical care of those left disabled, re-establishment of schools, offices and institutions, care of the orphaned children and their education, special attention to women who lost their families and their rehabilitation are but a few aspects Government and non-Government organisations will have to address their attention to.

Yet another aspect is that such calamities lead the affected people to reinforce their belief in fatalism and superstitions. It is both a duty and challenge to those engaged in the relief operations - and those engaged in science communication - to explain to them the difficulties involved in scientific predictions as a result of incomplete data or the incomplete understanding of the scientific phenomena. It is essential to establish once again their belief in science and scientific approach helping them resolve the conflict within - heart and head pulling in opposite directions.

It is unfortunate that the young science of seismology - dating back no more than a century - still cannot predict with certainty when and where the Earth will next shake and release its destructive energy from within. What science can now tell us is which areas on the Earth’s surface are more prone to earthquakes. It is still more unfortunate that this knowledge was available but not used in Kutch. Nor has it been used in the North and the North-East, the regions more commonly associated with earthquake dangers in India. Although the location of future events of major seismic activity can be identified with some probability, the probability of success in locating their timing remains extremely low. The country cannot afford to go through the agonising trauma of another Gujarat. During floods and cyclones, at least we have some time to evacuate the people to safer places. Not so with earthquakes. This then is a sufficient reason why we need to launch vigorous programmes on "earthquake preparedness" in regions or zones identified as vulnerable to major earthquakes. There is not much time to lose.

Where do we begin? Here are a few suggestions: (1) Development, production and dissemination of educational packages, posters and publications giving scientific information on earthquake phenomena and on topics such as design of earthquake resistant houses, do’s and don’ts to minimise the loss of human life and damage to property, and other relevant software; (2) Organise awareness campaigns/programmes giving scientific information and tips to minimise loss of life and property; (3) Development of core-groups especially in the earthquake prone regions and familiarising them with physical and emotional needs of the victims - educational, medical, housing and obtaining financial assistance to initiate a trade etc. and continuous rapport with scientific and Government/non-Government agencies for better co-ordination during relief operations and rehabilitation programmes; (4) Promotion of ham radio activity for establishment of emergency communication network. Incidentally, ham radio has proved its utility time and again during several natural calamities earlier and also during the present disaster. NCSTC/Vigyan Prasar ham radio station actively participated in establishing an emergency communication network with ham stations set up in the affected areas of Kutch and at other places; (5) Training of village persons in first-aid in collaboration with District and Village Panchayat authorities and Primary Health Centres and development of a medical kit for use during disasters; (6) Carrying out earthquake drills in schools and development of an earthquake survival kit; (7) Development of websites giving important and latest information on topics related to earthquake.

Meanwhile, Gujarat continues to feel tremors. Let us sympathise and empathise with the affected people, identify their problems and work for possible solutions, thereby helping them in the process of rehabilitation. Let us help Kutch rise from the rubble as fast as possible. We cannot avoid disasters, but we can learn to manage them.

- V.B. Kamble