Hopes recede for survivors
The death toll in Friday's disastrous
earthquake in Gujarat was today officially confirmed at over
25,000, even while uncleared debris lay in heaps in large parts
of the worst- affected Bhuj town, district headquarter of Kutch.
In Anjar, Rapar and other towns only 30 per cent debris has been
cleared.
Fernandes sticks to his figure
The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes,
today defended his estimate that the toll in the killer quake in
Gujarat might be more than 1,00,000.
Quake aftermath
The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani,
was gheraoed by agitated residents of this town who complained of
``gross neglect'' by the State administration in respect of
rescue and relief operations.
Donations continue to pour in
Donations and relief materials continued to
pour in today with the European Union pooling in 38 million Euros
(Rs. 160 crores) while Oman, which was the first to send a
consignment of aid, sent two more by chartered flights. Bhutan
has also contributed Bhutanese currency 20 million to the Prime
Minister's Relief Fund.
Rly. budget may be harsh: PM
After telling the country here yesterday that it
should be ready to bear additional burden to cope with the
gigantic task of relief and rehabilitation in the earthquake-
ravaged Gujarat, the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, today
asked the countrymen to be ready for increases in the railway
budget in view of the widening gap between income and
expenditure.
Sinha hints at fresh taxes
The Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha,
today hinted at imposition of fresh taxes due to the earthquake
in Gujarat.
Minister's remarks cost his job
The Karnataka Minister of State for Civil
Aviation and Infrastructure Development, Mr. T. John, resigned
today following a storm over his remark that the Gujarat
earthquake was ``god's punishment for the attacks on
missionaries'' there.
`No meddling with statute'
Stung by the President's criticism of
attempts at tinkering with the Constitution, the chairman of the
statute review panel, Mr. Justice M.N. Venkatachalaiah, today
reassured him that nothing would be done to undermine his
authority or the parliamentary form of democracy.
Bofors case adjourned
The extradition proceedings against Mr.
Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian national wanted by the CBI in
the Bofors case, were adjourned till February 10 by the sessions
court judge, Mr. Akhtar Bin Tahir.
Illegal survey
An attempt by two foreign ships from
indulging in illegal survey and collection of `strategic
hydrographic data' in the Indian nautical zone was foiled by the
Indian Coast Guard personnel recently, the Coast Guard chief,
Vice-Admiral John C. Desilva, said here today.
