House mourns victims

GANDHINAGAR, June 29: The State Assembly adjourned for the day on Monday after mourning the thousands who died when a cyclone struck the Kut...

GANDHINAGAR, June 29: The State Assembly adjourned for the day on Monday after mourning the thousands who died when a cyclone struck the Kutch-Saurashtra coast on June 9. The Speaker adjourned the House after it adopted a condolence resolution.

Speaking on the resolution, moved by Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, Leader of the Opposition Amarsinh Chaudhary of the Congress suggested that the government set up a special cell to monitor preparations for natural calamities so that loss of life can be minimised.

He also suggested that it would be helpful if the government set up a cyclone management plan on the lines of the one for floods, considering that Gujarat was the state with the biggest coastline.

Endorsing Industries Minister Suresh Mehta8217;s recent statement that the toll may be higher than what the government has declared, Chaudhary said the government should reveal the exact figure so that compensation could reach relatives of the victims.

Senior Congress member Manubhai Parmar said, 8220;Tears welled in my eyes when I read Suresh Mehta8217;s statement that the sea would continue to return bodies for years.8221; He said the government should rehabilitate survivors on a war footing.

Mehta, who represents the Mandvi Assembly constituency in the Kutch district, said the intensity of cyclone was so severe that it was impossible to give the exact toll.

Speaker Dhirubhai Shah intervened several times, warning members against politicising a natural disaster.

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Congress chief whip Naresh Raval said, 8220;The government has done little for the cyclone-affected even 20 days after the tragedy. The government should fix a cut-off date to trace missing persons and provide compensation to relatives.8221;

Endorsing Chaudhary8217;s suggestions, Upendra Trivedi Independent demanded a commission of inquiry into the Kandla tragedy, while RJP member Mansinh Chauhan pointed out that the disaster could have been averted, had the government taken precautions in time.

Among other legislators who paid homage to the cyclone victims were Vasan Ahir, Parmanand Khattar, and Parbat Shodham all BJP, Sidharth Patel and Ibrahim Mandra Congress, Rajendra Patel Janata Dal and Usmangani Devdiwala Independent.