1993 EARTHQUAKE OF LATUR
Category |
: |
Earthquake. |
Account |
: |
At 3.56 am on 30 September 1993, the State
of Maharashtra was struck by an earthquake measuring
6.4 on the Richter Scale and followed by 3 aftershocks. |
Area affected |
: |
The Districts of Latur and Osmanabad,
in the State of Maharashtra, were at the epicentre of
the Earthquake. |
Villages |
: |
52 villages were completely destroyed. |
Casualties |
: |
7,928 people died and 16,000 were injured. |
Livestock |
: |
15,854 domestic livestock perished. |
Affected |
: |
127,000 families were directly affected. |
Homeless |
: |
27,000 houses collapsed and 211,000 were
damaged. |
Aftershocks |
: |
Frequent tremors continued together with
heavy rainfall. |
|
HELP
BY BAPS ORGANISATION
|
|
Centre
|
:
|
BAPS centre in Mumbai coordinated relief operations.
Other BAPS centres in India and abroad were also involved.
|
|
Volunteers
|
:
|
BAPS deployed 900 BAPS volunteers for this relief
operation.
|
|
Area helped
|
:
|
The districts of Latur, Osmanabad and also neighbouring
areas. Moreover, BAPS concentrated its work in the
following villages: Samudraal, Kondjigadh, Kaddora,
Kaddeo Nimbal, Kal Nimbala, Udatpur, Balsur, Vilaspur
(Pandhari), Mulgaon, Murshidpur, Holi, Peth Sangali,
Rajegaon, Vadi, Rajegaon Sinhcoli.
|
IMMEDIATE HELP
In the first 24 hours,
a team of 25 BAPS doctors and volunteers from Mumbai reached
the village of Samudraal (more than 500 km from Mumbai)
with 4 tonnes of cooked food and medicines.
In another 24 hours,
60 more BAPS volunteers reached Samudraal from Mumbai with:
• 15 tonnes of milk
powder,
• 15 tonnes of flour,
• 15 tonnes of vegetable
oil,
• 15 tonnes of sugar,
• 8 tonnes of biscuits
• 5.5 tonnes of clothes.
SHELTER
Heavy rains pounded the entire area day and night. Tremors
were still occurring regularly. To protect the victims, BAPS
distributed tents and soft plastic for flooring. In other areas,
BAPS volunteers help construct temporary shelters from houses
destroyed by the earthquake.
MEDICAL HELP
BAPS doctors and medical staff from Mumbai and Ahmedabad were
immediately rushed to help the injured and sick. BAPS set up
its medical office at village Samudraal and conducted medical
camps in villages in the entire area. Medicines worth Rs.250,000/-
were given to the injured and sick.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
BAPS organised two types of food distribution programmes for
the victims:
Cooked Meals
For those who did not have cooking facilities, BAPS opened
2 kitchens at Patoda and Barshi which prepared cooked meals
for distribution in surrounding villages. Trucks, vans and
jeeps covered far and wide to ensure victims were reached.
Food Items
BAPS also started distributing food items on a daily ration
basis. 160.1 tonnes of food items were distributed which consisted
of a large variety:
Basin flour |
Juvar |
Peanuts |
Rice |
Turmeric |
Biscuits |
Lentil |
Peas |
Salt |
Vegetables cooked |
Chillies |
Millet |
Potatoes |
Sugar |
Vegetable oil |
Cinnamon |
Milk |
‘Puri' (cooked) |
Tapioca |
Wheat |
Gram flour |
Moriyo |
Refined flour |
Tea |
|
‘PITRU-TARPAN YAG'
A ‘Pitru-tarpan' ceremony, (special
religious and holy Yagna for departed souls,) was also held
on the 12 th day in Samudraal on special request by the villagers.
The Yagna was conducted by sadhus in the presences of people
from a number of villages.
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS PROVIVED
BAPS had conducted a thorough survey of the entire area and
had specifically chosen to distribute items that were in urgent
need.
Bags |
Cups |
Jugs |
Paraffin lamps |
Spoons |
Blankets |
Detergents |
Locks |
Plastic containers |
Stoves |
Blouse pieces |
Dhotis |
Matchboxes |
Plastic sheets |
Sweaters |
Buckets |
Dishes |
Mattresses |
Rolling-pins |
Tin cans |
Candles |
Dresses |
Medicines |
Saris |
Towels |
Caps |
Frocks |
Mirrors |
Shawls |
Trunks |
Carpets |
Glasses |
Mugs |
Shirts |
Utensil |
Combs |
Hair oil |
Pants |
Slippers |
|
Cots |
Jars |
Pans |
Soap |
|
• 26,000 articles
of clothes were distributed.
• 7,924 household
cooking utensils were distributed.
• 8,704 items of daily
use were also distributed.
OCCUPATIONAL RELIEF
The Earthquake had destroyed the livelihoods of countless
of people thus leaving them financially poor, idle and frustrated.
To revive their livelihoods, BAPS provided occupational equipment
to 2,156 people including farmers, tailors, washermen, potters,
cobblers, masons, carpenters, barbers, blacksmiths, women wicker
workers and Brahmins performing rites and rituals.
EDUCATIONAL HELP
Temporary schools were set up immediately by BAPS to restart
education for students in 4 villages: Samudraal, Kondjigadh,
Murshidpur and Udatpur.
REHABILITATION
Total reconstruction of village Samudraal on 7 July
1995
After the initial stage of providing relief and aid, the Maharashtra
Government requested BAPS to take responsibility of reconstructing
the village of Samudraal and rehabilitating its people.
Plans were drawn and on 9 November 1993, the foundation stone
was laid by the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Sharad
Pawar, amongst vedic chants and a gathering of thousands of
village folk.
BAPS completed its work in 17
months and on 7 July 1995, the reconstructed village of Samudraal
was inaugurated and renamed ‘Swaminarayan
Nagar' by the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Manohar Joshi.
Swaminarayan Nagar consisted of 280 houses, nurseries, a school,
dispensaries, a large water tank, gardens, religious centres
and cemetery along with new roads, lighting, water facilities
and drainage systems.
BAPS went on to construct 420 houses more in other villages.
A total of 600 homes were provided to families affected by
the earthquake.
OPINIONS
“The help offered
by BAPS Swaminarayan movement in different ways and means
can never be valued. They were here on the very next day
following the earthquake and are now preparing to build
the villagers a new town. I am confident that the movement
will complete all its responsibilities. Within these volunteers
you find doctors, engineers, architects and accountants.
I can definitely add that the volunteers of the BAPS have
served here with no expectation of rewards. They have truly
performed humanitarian service here and I again thank the
Swamiji and his volunteers. Thank you for everything."
Sharad Pawar , the then Chief
Minister of Maharashtra, 9 Nov. 1993
“I have never
seen such wonderful work elsewhere. The Sanstha's relief
and social work during such a disaster has provided society
with a new life and strength to bear the pain and suffering.
This effort has been of great help to us all.”
Manohar Joshi , the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
31 March 1995
|
