Given that earthquakes, unlike volcanoes, tidal waves, floods, droughts, or typhoons, continue to be unpredictable, irrespective of scientific advances, prevention is an unavailable option. The focus must be on rescue (evacuation of those trapped under debris), relief (provision of emergency services: medical, temporary housing, food and clothing) and rehabilitation. All must come to the aid of the affected. Timely aid can be provided only if central and state governments, military and para-military organisations, charitable trusts and NGOs, individuals in their private capacities and corporates work in tandem, efforts sadly lacking in the Latur and Uttaranchal tragedies.

While the prime minister will no doubt disburse money from the National Calamity Relief Fund, it is to be hoped that this amount and other donations reach the needy. Finally, another old lesson from this new tragedy: the absence of quake-resistant infrastructure in quake-prone areas. Residential buildings continue to be notoriouslysusceptible while most industrial complexes indeed follow the internationally prescribed safety parameters evolved to survive natural calamities: no coincidence, perhaps, that most of the latter have escaped serious damage. No doubt, reinforcing buildings to make them resistant to earthquakes is an expensive proposition but is it more costly than the collective economic losses arising from such disasters?

Besides, if corruption could be factored out, perhaps something like the same real building costs could be maintained for reinforced buildings. Can government apathy, evidenced in the non-implementation of the Bureau of Indian Standards criteria for quake-resistant structures, ever be justifiable? As the nation comes to grip with this latest tragedy, the most important lesson from Bhuj has to be the folly of being penny wise, pound foolish.