Bhuj has the dubious honour of naming the earthquake. It does bring benefits however.
Relief supplies have been concentrated here and many local people elsewhere claim that
other areas have been neglected in its favour. |
|
The District Collector speaks to the team. He was
brought in 3 days after the earthquake. One assumes, after listening to him for a while,
that this is because of his organizational and personal skills. He has made an emphasis on
participatory mechanisms, working closely with many (50-60) NGOs and alongside the UN.
"All of us here have given up our egos and are working as a team." |
Here, as elsewhere, the rebuilding of shrines and
temples is seen as a priority to help the psychological and spiritual healing process |
Similarly with other public buildings. The
rebuilding of this former bird house is considered important for the reconstruction of the
local community. If there is to be relocation, will such buildings be included in the
plan?
The Collector believes 95% of villagers oppose relocation but there is
uncertainty for the urban areas. |
What strikes one first while walking through the old city is the empty streets. Nowhere
else have we seen such empty streets and everybody in turn calls it a ghost town. |
One of the team tries to get a taxi to take him
here to the old part of the city but the taxi driver refuses to go - it is too dangerous
he believes. |
Some of the narrow lanes are still partly blocked.
People are still unable to retrieve belongings from beneath the rubble. |
Graffiti. One of the messages notes that the earthquake has levelled people as well as
buildings: that the richest and the poorest have been hit. This appears to be a common
feeling amongst those to whom we speak. However, the inequalities are still observable
(see the Prince's resources in Anjar). |
Many historic buildings have been damaged in this former tourist destination. Now it will
be disaster tourists who come. |
 |
An early poster demanding recognition for the scale of the disaster. |
The remnants of people's lives again to be seen amongst the rubble. |
|
The UN base at Bhuj. |
