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Show HEAP helps survivors from India quakes BOUNTIFUL The Himalayan Earthquake Assistance Program (HEAP) will show an audio-visual presentation on the survivors of last October's earthquake earth-quake that rocked a large area of the Himalayan Mountain range in northern nor-thern India. It will be presented Friday, Fri-day, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Clayton Intermediate School at 1471 S. 1800 East, Salt Lake City. HEAP, a non-profit organization formed by Paul Hackney, raises funds to help villagers with health care, hygiene education and assistance in rebuilding after the 1991 quake. "Funds generated will be channeled through existing relief programs being run by Woodstock School, which is located only 50 air miles from the program work sites,' Hackney said. The program pro-gram is set up so the people themselves them-selves do much of the labor involved in-volved and locals provide all the work force, thereby strengthening their own self-esteem and economy." Hackney, who operates HEAP from his Bountiful office, said the current need is very great. "I would estimate that in certain areas that were the hardest hit, still one-fourth of the population is living in makeshift make-shift tents and shelters. Many people peo-ple perished from the elements that they endured this past winter. ' The earthquake occurred on Oct. 19, 1991, and the National Earthquake Earth-quake Center in Colorado reported ; 7.0 magnitude event that had two killer waves just 1.6 seconds apart. The first quake lasted 18 seconds with the double wave causing massive mas-sive devastation. More than a half- dozen smaller quakes, some as large as 4.9 on the Richter scale, racked the Uttarkashi District in the Gar-wali Gar-wali Himalayan Mountain Region. Officials estimated that at least 2,000 people were killed and 1,800 injured. Tliere were 18,000 homes completely destroyed and an unknown number damaged. "Local villagers who lived at the epicenter reported that two giant fireballs were seen rolling out of a fault and floated across the valley in the middle of the night," Hackney said. 'Huge cracks in the earth were reported by scientists and measured over 100 feet deep before disappearing out of sight. ' ' All roads to the arta were blocked block-ed by numerous landslides, hampering hamper-ing initial rescue and relief teams. The Indian army was mobilized to rush emergency supplies to the thousands of stranded survivors by helicopter. 'Life is very slow to return to normal for this remote jungle area," Hackney said. 'The Indian government has provided what limited lim-ited assistance it has been able to, but it is a far cry from the needs of the earthquake survivors." HEAP'S presentation shows the rich culture and also the hardships the villagers have had to endure. Native cultural items will also be i sold at the presentation and a small admission price or donation will accepted ac-cepted at the door. All proceeds will go to the HEAP organization to aid those affected by the 1991 earthquake. For more information call HEAP . at 298-4772 or write to P.O. Box 892, Bountiful, Utah 8401 1. |