Residents sleep under sky with valuables and cash

Resident of a housing board society on Kalawad Road, Ila Pandya says she has packed cash and jwellery in a bag which she always carries around with her. Men in most families are carrying cash with them as a precautionary measure, she added.

Residents of Panchavati Society have stuffed their cars with warm clothes and other basic requirements and parked them on the open ground near the building, said resident Sangita Palod.

On Raiya Roda, residents of Konark Apartment have broken the wall surrounding the apartments so that they can rush out quickly if earth moves.ØResidents of Raviratna Park on University Road have gone one step further and made a pyramid of steel katoris. Explains resident Charuben Joshi: “The pyramid will give way at the slightest tremor, it will be a loud and clear indication of a tremor.”ØResidents of Saurashtrakala Kendra on Nirmala Convent Road have put up tents and all society members spent Saturday night together, said Prashant Mehta.

To lighten spirits, residents of Yoginagar Society organised a film show on the open ground of the society. At places like Pushkardham and Aalap Society, similar katha and dhun-bhajan sessions were organised.

Those who could not find open space near their places, shifted to theLalbahadur Shastri Maidan and the Race Course Ground. The maidan remained jampacked as people from across the city have landed with their cars and scooters at the ground to stay away from the concrete jungle.

Race Course, the most happening place in Rajkot, turned out to be the other favorite spot for the citizens. These apart, the ring road too was flooded with cars and two-wheelers. “We decided to stay outdoors and had an adventurous night with my family on the ring road,” said Parimal Rawal.

Meanwhile, tea vendors and eating joints are doing brisk business. According to Bharat Mandhav who owns a tea stall near Lalbhadur Shastri Maidan, sale exceeded 300 litres on Saturday night.