Govt. to send team to help Malayalis

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 27. The State Government has decided to sent a team headed by the Principal Secretary (Social Welfare), Dr. Satyanarayana Dash, to Gujarat to enquire about the Keralites hit by the earthquake and provide relief. A medical team will also be deputed to Gujarat.

The Chief Minister, Mr. E. K. Nayanar, announced a relief of Rs. 1 crore to the Gujarat Government to assist the people affected by the quake. This would be the first instalment of assistance proposed by the Government.

A release issued by the Chief Minister's office said that the official team to Gujarat comprises the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Venugopal K. Nair, and the State Protocol Officer, Mr. K. Unnikrishnan, besides Mr. Satyanarayana Dash. A five- member medical team would be headed by the Deputy Director of the Health Department, Dr. Radhakrishnan.

A control room has been set up at the Secretariat under the charge of Additional Secretary (Revenue), Mr. C. K. Viswanathan, to coordinate information about Keralites hit by the quake in Gujarat and elsewhere in the country. This control room, which can be contacted on phone no.s 0471-333198, 518700 and 447456 (Res.), will function throughout day and night. Those who wish to contact the Gujarat authorities directly can use the following numbers. Control Room: (2712) 49256 and 46330; Mr. P. Paneervel, Relief Commissioner, Gujarat: (2712) 51506, Fax: (2712) 21989 and 20232; District Collector, Bhuj: (2832) 50020 (Office), 50350 (Res.), Fax (2832) 50430 and District Collector, Ahmedabad: (79) 5508989.

An official release said that many Malayalis were feared to have been hit by the earthquake in Gujarat and various parts of the country. Information about them could be obtained from the control room.

The Health Minister, Mr. V. C. Kabeer, said the medical team from Kerala, consisting of doctors as well as paramedical staff, would provide treatment and medicines to the victims.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. A. K. Antony, expressed sorrow over the death of thousands of people and loss of property worth crores of rupees in the earthquake. He urged all to contribute to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The BJP general secretary, Mr. P. P. Mukundan, also called upon the people to rush assistance.

The Kerala branch of the Indian Medical Association said it would provide medicines, equipment and funds to the quake-affected people through the Gujarat unit of the association. If necessary, a team of doctors too would go to Gujarat.

The association president, Dr. R. V. Asokan, and the secretary, Dr. T. Suresh Kumar, said the branch had sent Rs. 25,000 to the Gujarat unit as first instalment.

The organising committee of the Flower Show 2001 here decided to contribute Rs. 1 lakh for relief works.

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Section  : Southern States
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