They are preparing and distributing food packets to ensure adequate supply in view of non-availability of boats, jeeps, and trucks for distribution.

And it is because of these NGOs that the prices of vegetables, milk, butter and bread have not shot up, though Sumul and Choryasi milk was in short supply. Traders, too, have not exploited the situation and these essentials are being made available at normal price despite the fact that consumption has increased in the past two days.

Till afternoon, the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry provided Surat Municipal Corporation with one lakh food packets.

Chamber vice-president Amar Nath Dora said, ``Availability of food packets is not a problem as many more people are coming forward to help and donate generously. But distribution is a real problem''. Since Wednesday morning, the chamber has been preparing food for the flood-affected.

A number of persons have given flour, edible oil, vegetables, maida for preparing food packets. But unless the administration arranges for sufficient number of vehicles and boats, the marooned people cannot be provided with food, Dora adds.

Even as the district development office has been converted into a food packet distribution centre, Chandrakant Sanghvi of Jain Jalaram Manch complains the administration lacks co-ordination.

The people are marooned and we want to help them, but we are unable to reach them because of non-availability of jeeps and boats.

Citizens Council and the chamber were co-ordinating with the NGOs, while Varachcha Medical Association and Varachcha Diamond Association were distributing food packets in the Varachcha zone.