15 out of 70 school-kids rescued in Ahmedabad

15 out of 70 school-kids rescued in Ahmedabad
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

AHMEDABAD, JAN 27: Though the administration is on its toes and carrying out rescue operations in full swing in the quake-affected areas of the city, the lack of logistical support was, however, hampering the smooth conduct of the operations at many places in Gujarat.

The scene at Swaminarayan Vidya Mandir at Ghodasar in Maninagar, one of the worst-affected area in the quake, would move anybody to tears.

Rescue operations began yesterday morning immediately after the school building was reduced to a heap of rubbles by the powerful earthquake. However, even after lapse of 24 hours, fate of about 70 children trapped in the debris was still unknown. So far, only 15 children could be rescued by the administrative staff and of them two had died later.

The slow pace of rescue operations was attributed by anxious parents and bystanders to equipments, which under-performed task of removing heavy concrete slabs that presumably have immured the innocent children, who had gathered for flag-hoisting on the terrace of the school on the occasion of Republic Day yesterday.

The tardy pace of rescue operations at the Swaminarayan School was getting on the nerves of the people. Many people who empathised with parents and guardians of the children, still trapped in the debris of the collapsed school, were highly critical of the ongoing rescue operations.

However, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation commissioner K Kailashnathan did not agree with the criticism saying under such circumstances things would take time to settle.

He said, ``We have asked the Vadodara Muncipal Corporation to lend us two cranes of 130-180 tonnes' capacity to carry out the relief operations smoothly. At least two-three days would be required to clear off the debris collected due to collapsing of multi-storeyed buildings in the Corporation areas.

``We have also sought help of the Army engineers to help us with their equipment in carrying out the rescue operations,'' he said.