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Aid To Indian Quake Victims From U.S. Muslim Organizations
WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (IslamOnline) - As rescuers revived plans to continue the search for earthquake victims in India on Tuesday, the Indian Muslim Relief Committee (IMRC) of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), in cooperation with Jamaat-e-Islami, had already initiated relief operations.
The IMRC dispatched 70 relief workers with a team of five doctors and an ambulance to Bhuj, the epicenter of the earthquake.
An ambulance team was also sent to Morbi, Rajkot and Surendranagar, in order to provide medical aid to the injured. Another team of nine medical personnel has also been sent to Wadhvan and Viramgam to survey the situation there.
Rescue operation teams are engaged in setting up tents and distributing blankets, water and food, for about 10,000 residents who have lost their homes.
IMRC Chairman, Manzoor Ghori, and member Zafar Shaikh are visiting the affected areas and are supervising the rescue operation. The IMRC immediately sent $25,000 for relief work but state that much more is needed, stating that their target is to provide relief in the hardest hit areas, including Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Rajkot, Morbi, Vakaner, Mabra, Surendra Nagar and Wadhvan in Northern Gujarat (see Related Link).
In related news, the earthquake, in addition to taking thousands of lives, also damaged a 571-year-old marvel of Islamic architecture called the Jhulta Minara (swaying minaret).
The Jhulta Minara is considered a wonder for it swayed vigorously even when pushed slightly. When the earthquake struck January 26th, a huge portion of the minaret collapsed.
The 200-foot Minara was built as part of the Bibiji mosque by Sultan Muzaffar Shah, and later by Mohammed Shah Ahmed Shah, in memory of his mother, Makhduma Jahan's in 1430.
The swaying minarets puzzled the British during the Raj, and fearing collapse, demolished a part of one minaret. They, however, withdrew from completing their plans due to Muslim protests.
Its managing trustee, Abdul Alim, told the Indian Mid-Day News, "The minara used to shake so vigorously, that if we were on the top with a cup of tea, the tea would spill. It shook even when a child pushed it."
Shakir Ahmed, a resident of the area said, "When the earth quaked, I ran out of house and noticed that the minara was shaking too violently. A little later, about 30 feet of the minaret crashed.
"However, even after the quake was over, the remaining minaret continued shaking."
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