India PM orders war footing for quake aid

A hundred buildings have collapsed

NEW DELHI, India -- Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is urging relief workers to go on a war-footing to help victims of a devastating earthquake.

Hundreds are feared dead from the 7.9 magnitude quake. It was centered in the arid western state of Gujarat and felt across Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Officials say the death toll stands at more than 500, and that figure is expected to rise.

Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani said rescuers were finding people in the rubble of collapsed buildings and estimated the death toll would top 1,000.

The quake occurred at 8.46 am, centered near the desert town of Bhuj. Most of the damage was reported in Ahmedabad, the state's commercial center, about 400 kilometers away.

VIDEO CNN's Satinder Bindra has more on the devastating earthquake that hit India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MAGNITUDE GUIDE Below is an interactive guide to earthquake magnitude and severity: Magnitude: Less than 3.5 3.5 - 5.4 Under 6.0 6.1 - 6.9 7.0 - 7.9 8 or greater   IN-DEPTH Earthquakes of the 20th Century     AUDIO CNN's Satinder Bindra: Death rate increasing by the hour 180K/32 sec. AIFF or WAV sound India's Home Minister L K Advani on the known extent of damage 235K/42 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     ALSO Aid officials assess quake damage   MESSAGE BOARD India quake

CNN's Suhasini Haider said most of the dead were trapped in buildings which had collapsed in the tremor. She said the casualty figure was expected to rise, with people still trapped in the rubble.

She also said state officials are urging people to leave their damaged homes to prevent more deaths and injuries.

Gujarat's state home minister, Haren Pandya, said 100 buildings had collapsed throughout the province.

"The whole state has been affected. Communications have been disrupted all over the state," Pandya said.

Pakistan also hit

The quake also left at least four people dead in southern Pakistan's Sindh province.

A 15-day old infant and an eight-year old girl were killed, and four people were injured when a four-story building collapsed in the city of Hyderabad.

Journalist Aamer Ahmed told CNN the tremor was the strongest to hit this Pakistani region. Officials believe the number of dead could rise.

Pakistan's ruler, General Pervez Musharraf has sent a message to his Indian counterpart expressing sorrow at the deaths of the quake victims.

"I have been saddened at the tragic loss of life and property in the earthquake," he said. "The government and people of Pakistan share the grief of the bereaved families."

Indian PM orders war footing

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Vajpayee said he was "deeply pained and distressed" to learn about the earthquake.

"I urge all the concerned agencies of the central and state government to begin rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations on a war-footing," he said in a statement.

Vajpayee also appealed to citizens, charities and volunteer organizations to coordinate with the governmen to deal with the situation.

The Indian Meteorological Department says the quake was the most powerful to hit the region in half a century.

Republic Day continues

The casualty list is set to rise

The quake did not disrupt Republic Day celebrations, which took place in India's capital, New Delhi, amid the tightest security in years, and following threats from Pakistan-based Muslim separatists against India's top leadership.

The tremor hit just before the parade, where thousands of police and soldiers were on alert against a terrorist attack.

Republic Day, marks India's transition to a democratic republic after independence from Britain in 1947.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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