Home Minister L K Advani is flying down to Bhuj on Thursday morning to leave for Kandla and Gandhidham at 12.30 p.m. He will also visit the neighbouring salt works where 40 salt pan workers were swept away. Later in the day, he will hold discussions with Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and other State government officials at Ahmedabad followed by a press conference. He will leave for Delhi at 6.30 p.m.

On the other hand, AICC president Sonia Gandhi will land at Bhuj on Thursday morning from where she will drive down to Kandla port. After returning from Kandla, she will fly to Jamnagar. She will be accompanied by AICC general secretary Meira Kumar, treasurer Ahmed Patel and MPs Chhitubhai Gamit and Raju Parmar.

GPCC president C D Patel, Amarsinh Chaudhary, Chhabildas Mehta, Urmilaben Patel, Prabodh Raval and Manoharsinh Jadeja will join Sonia during the day after leaving Gadhda for Bhuj. They will be joined by local leaders of Saurashtra, according to party sources. Expressing deep grief for the victims of the calamity, C D Patel has announced sending a PCC delegation to assess the situation on the spot and assist in relief operations.