[Jeanne Meserve, Cnn Anchor:] There is a fear of more aftershocks in western India, following a severe earthquake that may have killed more than 1,100 people. We get the latest from our New Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra, who joins us now by satellite phones Satinder.
[Satinder Bindra, Cnn Correspondent:] Jeanne, the worst damage here is in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. About 50 buildings have been completely flattened. And the army is now joining in the relief efforts. I've just come back from a few sites where soldiers digging away furiously, many of them with their bare hands. So far, at the building where I was, they managed to pull out six people. Four of them are doing OK, two are dead, and at least three are still trapped inside. The need of the hour, of course, is speed. Also what's needed here is heavy lifting equipment, like cranes. A lot of the residents are very angry that cranes didn't get in time or didn't get there fast enough. In fact, one said resident told me the first cranes that arrived were too small, and when they tried to lift heavy slabs, they just turned right over. Of course, New Delhi is taking matters very seriously. The Indian Prime minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, has called this a national calamity. Relief efforts are being sped up and medical units and doctors are being sent here, to local airports which are still operational Jeanne.
[Meserve:] Have there been severe aftershocks, Satinder?
[Bindra:] Officials are warning there could be aftershocks measuring five in terms of intensity. Of course, this earthquake measured a 7.9. Officials are broadcasting on local radio and TV stations that the aftershocks could happen any time, and people who are living in buildings that may have suffered structural damage should could come out immediately. So at the moment, this city is full of fear. Many people are coming down out of the high-rises, and be spending a long, cold night out in the open. Of course, the center of this earthquake was in a place called Bhuj, which is just west of here. We are hearing reports from Bhuj that about 130 people have been killed there. Here there is one place where some 100 school students are still believed to be trapped under the rubble of what was once their school building. So clearly, what's needed is more relief, more help. Some 5,000 troops are already here. And what's also being tried what people are also trying to organize here is a civilian relief effort. Many civilians are now volunteering, telling the army they would like to help. I've seen some civilians who are making tea, providing drinking water for army soldiers so their energy is up and they can try and save people who are trapped inside Jeanne.
[Meserve:] Satinder Bindra, from India, thank you.