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Many quake survivors hit by depression

Vikram Vakil in Surat

Doctor, I am Urmila. After the earthquake, I cannot eat and don't feel sleepy. Please help. I am suffering from depression," she says.

This is not Urmila's story alone, but that of many other Surtis, who are suffering from depression after the earthquake hit Gujarat on Friday morning.

Says Dr Mukul Choksey, a psychiatrist from Surat, "There is nothing new in this. Sensitive people go through trauma after such incidents. They fear another earthquake, even if they see someone running along. It is difficult for them to overcome this."

"They also fear another earthquake and lead others to believing them. And then rumours spread, causing panic in the city," adds Choksey.

Choksey has attended to nearly 22 persons suffering from a fear psychosis in the 24-hour post-quake period.

There are also cases of people having a feeling of guilt, where other family members have passed away.

"Surat had been hit by a plague in 1994, and that time too there were such cases," adds Choksey.

Choksey explains, "Many Jews who survived Nazi atrocities suffered a fear psychosis. And this psychosis was there in their minds for nearly 40 years. So, it is difficult to say when the fear will disappear."

The earthquake has not even spared the affluent, who have been forced to leave their apartments and bungalows in Surat and come out on the streets.

"There are chances that these people will suffer from depression as they have lost everything in the quake," said Choksey.

Ten more bodies were extricated from the Hare Krishna complex on Sunday evening. Thirty people had died till Saturday.

Mukesh Mandlewala, who stays adjacent to the complex at Gandhi Kutir Society, says, "I have seen death passing through my eyes as the Hare Krishna building fell in front of me like a pack of cards. In the panic, I ran out of my house and I didn't even know where to run. Luckily, I survived. But I cannot sleep at night as I am scared."

"When the building was falling in front of us, I thought that my family would not survive. But by God's grace we all survived," adds Rachna Kaffola, also from Gandhi Kutir.

J Aggarwal, a Syndicate Bank officer who had a flat at the Hare Krishna Apartments survived because he had gone for a morning walk.

His son had gone to attend the Republic Day function.

His wife and daughter, on the first floor, were preparing to leave for shopping. They escaped in the nick of time.

"I am not feeling bad about losing my flat as my family members were lucky to have survived the crash," Aggarwal told rediff.com.

Another of Dr Choksey's patients, who was staying near Hare Krishna Tower, refuses to return to her flat, as she fears that her building will fall soon.

The Complete Coverage

EXTERNAL LINKS
The RD Killer Quake of Jan 26, 2001: Technical details
All about earthquakes in India and their impact
India Meteorological Department's earthquake reports
Disaster relief set-up in India
Major earthquakes across the world in recent times
A post-quake volunteer's unusual tryst with the departed
Earthquake News: Web site offering comprehensive news, information and features
Earthquake site map
USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program

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