02-14-2001, 09:40 PM
Nearly one week after a devastating earthquake struck the State of Gujarat in Western India, amateur radio continues to play a major role in the relief effort.
Amateurs have established HF and VHF nets throughout Gujarat to aid in supplying food, clothing, medicine and shelter to the earthquake victims. More than 20,000 have perished, and the death toll is expected to go much higher. Amateurs from ARSI, the IARU member-society, and from the National Institute of Amateur Radio have been on the scene since the 27th of January, providing communications support and information on victims. VU2DVO reports that amateurs are ''working round the clock". Traffic is being handled on 40- and 20-metre frequencies as well as on VHF. Indian amateurs have asked for cooperation in maintaining clear frequencies in the vicinity of 14.155 and 14.160 MHz as well as on various net frequencies between 14.250 and 14.270 MHz.
Amateurs have established HF and VHF nets throughout Gujarat to aid in supplying food, clothing, medicine and shelter to the earthquake victims. More than 20,000 have perished, and the death toll is expected to go much higher. Amateurs from ARSI, the IARU member-society, and from the National Institute of Amateur Radio have been on the scene since the 27th of January, providing communications support and information on victims. VU2DVO reports that amateurs are ''working round the clock". Traffic is being handled on 40- and 20-metre frequencies as well as on VHF. Indian amateurs have asked for cooperation in maintaining clear frequencies in the vicinity of 14.155 and 14.160 MHz as well as on various net frequencies between 14.250 and 14.270 MHz.