But then, there also seems to be a proverbial silver lining even in this devastation as people reminisce about the good samaritans who came forward to help them at the time of distress.

Ibrahim, who works in a salt and chemical unit, is one such local hero. In Mundhra where is he from people where caught unawares as a high velocity tide lashed the port area. But ignoring the risk to his life, Ibrahim waded through the quagmire several times and brought the men, women and children to the safety of the factory premises, located a few kilometres away.

In Anjar town, reeling under power and water cuts, Congress activist Dhanjibhai Sorathia and Bharatiya Janata Party worker Veljibhai Soroathia installed generators in their personal borewellsand made arrangements for the distribution of water in the town through tankers.

Mandvi had another tale of two good samaritans. A couple, who themselves had no house, helped 28 stranded bus passengers to take shelter in an abandoned house in the vicinity. They even made arrangement for the passengers' food. The bus, with 28 passengers, was heading for Bhavnagar from Mandvi via Mundhra, when it got caught in the cyclone at Jabalpur.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat Legislative Assembly was adjourned for the day today after members observed mourning for the thousands who died in the June 9 cyclone.

When the House met for the day, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel moved the motion condoling the deaths. Assembly Speaker Dhrubhai Shah, Industries Minister Suresh Mehta, Leader of Opposition Amarsinh Chaudhary, along with Udesinh Baria and Naresh Raval (Congress), Vasant Aihar and Mukesh Zaveri (BJP), Ushmangani Devdiwala (Independent) expressed grief over the high toll and massive destruction.