By February 7, the Gujarat Government had received 3.9 lakh blankets, 1.1 lakh plastic sheets and 64,272 tents for distribution to the 3.78 crore people affected by the quake. These were apart from the relief material given out by voluntary groups. The rescue and relief operations involved 50,000 personnel, including 2,986 doctors and 5,536 paramedics. The efforts have even earned praise. They have gone and done their jobs.
Nothing happens perfectly in a disaster.
Perfection will always remain a pipe dream. But as Gujarat picks up the pieces, the public debate is centred on the Government's response. Basic rescue equipment like cranes took too long arriving in Kutch. For a start, the quake took the Government totally by surprise and entirely unprepared. This state of unpreparedness was unwarranted.