Losses in Indian Quake Estimated at 208.75 Billion RupeesThe Indian government Wednesday estimated the losses in the Gujarat earthquake at 208.75 billion rupees (US$4.54 billion) and proposed to build a "new Kutch" township with modern planning and quake-resistant houses.Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj told a press conference that the losses to industrial and commercial establishments were put at 80 billion rupees (1.74 billion dollars) while damage to houses and belongings were estimated to be at 11 billion rupees (239 million dollars) besides 18.75 billion rupees (408 million dollars) for public buildings. The death toll so far has been at 16,480 and the number of injured was put at 150,000, she added. On rebuilding the worst-hit Kutch region, which has been completely devastated by the killer quake, the government proposed to build a new township with modern planning and quake-resistant houses. |
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