In a letter to Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, Mr Ambani said: "Reliance is deeply conscious of the social responsibility of business and industry. We have already allocated Rs 15 crore in cash, kind, material, equipment and various other forms to alleviate the suffering of victims of this grave calamity."

Reliance has placed its human material resources at the disposal of the state government and the army and the air force authorities to assist them in rescue and relief operations in Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Bhuj and surrounding areas. Hundreds of vehicles have already been rushed. Equipment and machinery have been made available for removal of debris, and rescuing people. Water, food and medical assistance and temporary shelters are being supplied on an emergency basis. Assistance is also being extended to provide power and communication facilities in areas where life has been totally disrupted.

Mr Ambani added: "I have advised our people to adopt some specific earthquake affected areas for rescue, relief, and reconstruction. All this will be done in coordination with the special cell set up in the prime minister's office and in consultation with the authorities in the ground."

Tata Steel has pledged Rs 3 crore and a relief package including medicines and blood units for earthquake victims of Gujarat. In an emergency meeting with Jamshedpur senior citizens, the company management signed an agreement with Tata Workers' Union and Tisco Mazdoor Union to raise the amount through contribution of a day's wages by employees and a matching donation by the management. Tata Steel would fly in 320 units of blood to Bhuj today since the Ahmedabad-Bhuj link was not yet motorable, company sources here said. Additional blood units would be flown in, when required, along with medical teams and medicines.

The company would also fly over 10,000 blankets withinthe next two days, the sources said. Trucks were doing the rounds in Jamshedpur to collect relief items and clothes donated by people.

The Essar Group will build a temporary shed of galvanised sheets in Jodiya taluka of Jamnagar district to accommodate 500 quake-hit victims. uThe company was also distributing food-packets, clothes, blankets for the quake victims in Gujarat. Besides, the Essar Group has made available its cranes, generator sets and an aircraft for relief operations.

Air India, in a bid to accelerate relief from around the world for earthquake victims in Bhuj and Ahmedabad, will provide free transportation of relief material, sophisticated medical equipment, passage to personnel of relief organisations, who have expertise in dealing with such situations and can render valuable assistance, besides providing seats on a priority basis to relatives of quake victims.

According to a press release: "Air India offices worldwide have been advised to arrange priority transportation of high-density low-volume relief material from the gulf region from where it operates 61 flights per week and has adequate capacity to transport material."

Indian Airlines continued to operate additional flights to earthquake affected cities of Bhuj and Ahmedabad in Gujarat. In its efforts to help step up the relief operations, Alliance Air, the fully-owned subsidiary of Indian Airlines, has operated two additional flights from Mumbai to Bhuj and two shuttle services between Bhuj and Ahmedabad. The airline has been carrying relief materials free of charge on its flights from various centres to the quake affected areas of Gujarat.

Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company has installed VSATs at Bhuj as part of the government's disaster management programme. One more VSAT is being installed at Anjar.

Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) home and personal care factory and rice factory at Kandla Free Trade Zone has suffered some structural damage due to the earthquake. "A detailed assessment of the damage is under way and arrangements are simultaneously being made to clear from the factory packed stocks for shipment," the company has said in a press statement.

Preliminary estimates suggest that it could take four to six weeks to resume operations at the Kandla facilities. The company is making alternative sourcing arrangements from plants elsewhere in the country to meet the Export requirements inherito supplied from these plants."

The third party salt plants at Gandhidham has suffered extensive damage and the company is working on alternatiuve means to meet the market demand, including increased sourcing from other units, it said.

HLL's marine products factories at Chorwad and Veraval have not been affected and are expected to recommence operations in a couple of days after necessary safety checks.