March 6, 2006 - Bundi
Once again, I had lost track of what the date was; I thought it was Monday, March 5, but it was actually Monday, March 6. The group of my traveling buddies that went on the tiger safari this morning saw two of the big cats, though only from a distance. I was glad that my friends saw the tigers because they (the humans) had to get up really early. They all returned to the lodge with smiles on their faces.
We left for Bundi in Jeeps at 12:30 p.m. Instead of lunch, I had potato chips, which was a mistake since they made me feel ill. The journey to Bundi was to take 4-4½ hours, but it ended up taking only 3½. We traveled through some beautiful countryside – mountains, desert, lots of ruins. We also went through many small villages. In one of them, we stopped for a bathroom break and I took out my camera with the telephoto lens for some shots of the great looking (not as in “handsome”) Indian men in their turbans and Indian dress. After clicking off about 4 photos, groups of men started coming toward me, and before I knew it I was surrounded by about a hundred men. I was very frightened because I thought they were angry at me for taking photographs. Quickly Chandra was at my side and he ushered me behind a building out of the sight of the men. We soon learned, however, that the men meant us no harm; they were only curious about who we were and what we were doing. Nonetheless, that was the end of my photo session since I think they all wanted me to take their picture, and I certainly did not have enough film for that!
We left for Bundi in Jeeps at 12:30 p.m. Instead of lunch, I had potato chips, which was a mistake since they made me feel ill. The journey to Bundi was to take 4-4½ hours, but it ended up taking only 3½. We traveled through some beautiful countryside – mountains, desert, lots of ruins. We also went through many small villages. In one of them, we stopped for a bathroom break and I took out my camera with the telephoto lens for some shots of the great looking (not as in “handsome”) Indian men in their turbans and Indian dress. After clicking off about 4 photos, groups of men started coming toward me, and before I knew it I was surrounded by about a hundred men. I was very frightened because I thought they were angry at me for taking photographs. Quickly Chandra was at my side and he ushered me behind a building out of the sight of the men. We soon learned, however, that the men meant us no harm; they were only curious about who we were and what we were doing. Nonetheless, that was the end of my photo session since I think they all wanted me to take their picture, and I certainly did not have enough film for that!
Chittogarh Fort
Oil painting of Padminis Palace at Chittogarh Fort in the midst of the water tank.
We were soon back on the road. It was not long before we saw in the distance a massive fort sprawled over the top of a rocky hill. This turned out to be the impressive Chittorgarh Fort, which covered almost 700 acres! Chittogarh is the largest fort in India and the greatest in the state of Rajasthan. It was built in the 7th century and was abandoned in 1568 after it was seized by the the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. It was returned to the Rajputs (Hindu ruling class) in 1616, but was never again occupied. Finally, in 1905, the fort was refurbished.
From the road on which we were driving, Chittogarh Fort looked spectacular. I was disappointed to learn that we were not going to be stopping there, as it would have been a great place to explore.
(Click on images below to view.)
From the road on which we were driving, Chittogarh Fort looked spectacular. I was disappointed to learn that we were not going to be stopping there, as it would have been a great place to explore.
(Click on images below to view.)
As we continued to drive to Bundi, we passed many dead dogs and at least one dead cow lying along the road. This was the first time I had seen dead animals, except for the dog in Mamallapuram. The animals on the road today must have been run over by vehicles, which seemed strange because we had seen very few vehicles as we drove to Bundi. At one point during our drive I saw a couple young boys trying to put what looked like a cow (others said it was a goat or a deer, which was unlikely since there were no deer in these parts) on a bicycle. Whatever it was, it was dead, and the boys were having a difficult time.
Ishwari Niwas
Ishwari Niwas Hotel. It didn't look quite like this when I stayed here.
The Ishwari Niwas, our hotel in Bundi, used to be a haveli. (Haveli is the term used for a private mansion in India. The havelis were status symbols for the Rajasthani people as well as homes for their extended families, providing security and comfort in seclusion from the outside world. The havelis were to be closed from all sides with one large main gate.) Over 100 years old, the Ishwari Niwas haveli was built during the reign of the ruler Maharao Raja Ishwari Singh for the Diwan of Bundi State. In 1945, it was handed over to Maharaj Kesari Singh for his residence. In 1991, it was turned into a guest house, and today it is also the residence of Maharao Raja’s nephew, Maharaj Balbhadra Singhji. It was built in a very traditional fashion – 24 spacious rooms around a large courtyard where tables and chairs were arranged around a small fountain.
LouAnn and I had a really cool room. The walls were all hand painted with flowers and dancing ladies. There was also a very large, beautiful wall painting of the Hindu god, Vishnu, blue with his four arms – one holding a lotus flower, two playing a flute and the last one holding up the land. In the bathroom, the walls were painted with grassy marshland and ibis. We rested until 6 p.m.
(Click on the images below to view.)
LouAnn and I had a really cool room. The walls were all hand painted with flowers and dancing ladies. There was also a very large, beautiful wall painting of the Hindu god, Vishnu, blue with his four arms – one holding a lotus flower, two playing a flute and the last one holding up the land. In the bathroom, the walls were painted with grassy marshland and ibis. We rested until 6 p.m.
(Click on the images below to view.)
Walking Bundi
After a short rest, my traveling companions and I took to the streets of Bundi, which has been called the “undiscovered jewel of Rajasthan.” Visiting this small, walled city was like stepping back into time. Like most places in India, Bundi has a long history dating back to the 12th century, though it was inhabited by tribes long before that time.
We explored Bundi for about an hour. I stopped for a little while to watch the roadside dentist. He had set up shop on the side of the road (hence "roadside dentist"; duh!) with a dental chair and all of his dental instruments laid out for everyone to see. There were also a variety of dentures spread out on a low table… just in case you needed a set of false teeth. A man was sitting in the dental chair being worked on by the dentist, right on the side of the road. This was certainly not a sterile environment for a tooth extraction, and if I was a resident of this town, I would have let my teeth rot and fall out before I visited the local dentist. In any case, there was no anesthetic at these roadside dentists, so the patient sitting in this dentist’s chair was smoking something that smelled pretty potent!
We explored Bundi for about an hour. I stopped for a little while to watch the roadside dentist. He had set up shop on the side of the road (hence "roadside dentist"; duh!) with a dental chair and all of his dental instruments laid out for everyone to see. There were also a variety of dentures spread out on a low table… just in case you needed a set of false teeth. A man was sitting in the dental chair being worked on by the dentist, right on the side of the road. This was certainly not a sterile environment for a tooth extraction, and if I was a resident of this town, I would have let my teeth rot and fall out before I visited the local dentist. In any case, there was no anesthetic at these roadside dentists, so the patient sitting in this dentist’s chair was smoking something that smelled pretty potent!
.
Sabzi Mandi, the vegetable market.
We continued walking through the streets and passed by many stalls selling the typical Western junk – which apparently the Indians love – before we entered through the gates into the old, walled part of the city. The streets became very narrow, probably no wider than 10 feet. We passed by the silver merchants who, instead of chairs or benches, all had thick, large, white mats covering the “floor” of their shops on which the mechants were sitting cross-legged or semi-laying; it all looked very comfy. We then went into Sabzi Mandi , the vegetable market, where we saw all kinds of vegetables; some I recognized and some I had never even heard of before. (Apparently, there is no lettuce in India. The story goes that Indian people are not inclined to eat leafy vegetables because of the difficulty of getting clean water to wash these types of veggies. Personally, I doubt that is the reason because the Indians drink this same water and it doesn’t seem to faze them in the least.) There were all kinds of animals running through the vegetable market. It’s the only “grocery store” were pigs are allowed! Literally!!
(Click on the images below to view.)
(Click on the images below to view.)
March 7, 2006 - Bundi
This morning my fellow travelers and I went to the Garh Palace in Bundi. We took auto rickshaws through the old part of town and arrived at the bottom of a steep cobblestone street. From this point, we walked up the extremely long, steep, uneven cobblestone ramp until we reached the palace gate. I was still recovering from the flu, so I was feeling very weak and had to take it slow.
Work on the palace began in the 16th century, and it was added to over the next 200 years at different levels on the hillside. The palace itself was entered through the imposing “Elephant Gateway,” flanked by a pair of huge painted elephants. The doors of the palace gateway were massive with sharp metal spikes about 6” long all over them. This was to keep the enemy’s elephants from crashing through the gates. Once through the gates, I viewed a ruined marvel! It was obvious that this palace was once very beautiful, but was now in an extreme state of disrepair. .
We were allowed to go almost anywhere we wanted to in the entire palace and, since we were the only visitors that day, we had the whole place to ourselves. I explored passages where one misstep would have sent me crashing through the floor; chambers where bats hung from the ceilings; an area where bees had built their Volkswagon-sized nest in the corner of a balcony; rooms where walls were crumbling into heaps. I also saw the beauty of what the palace once was: brilliantly painted wall murals with the paint slowly fading; stained glass windows; rooms covered with mirrored tiles. Above the palace on top of the hill was a huge fort, and there were secret passages leading from the palace to the fort that the royals would use in times of warfare. Unfortunately, we were not permitted to explore these tunnels as they had not yet been opened to the public. However, we were allowed to explore two “off limit” areas of the palace: 1) a part which was very dangerous because of extreme decay (it was a huge area with rooms and passageways and steps everywhere), and 2) through a metal trap door we encountered an stunningly gorgeous outdoor garden with green grass, flowers of many varieties and a large, albeit empty, manmade fishing pool. Along one side of the garden was a large open room painted with the most beautiful scenes of early Indian life.
(Click on the images below to view.)
Work on the palace began in the 16th century, and it was added to over the next 200 years at different levels on the hillside. The palace itself was entered through the imposing “Elephant Gateway,” flanked by a pair of huge painted elephants. The doors of the palace gateway were massive with sharp metal spikes about 6” long all over them. This was to keep the enemy’s elephants from crashing through the gates. Once through the gates, I viewed a ruined marvel! It was obvious that this palace was once very beautiful, but was now in an extreme state of disrepair. .
We were allowed to go almost anywhere we wanted to in the entire palace and, since we were the only visitors that day, we had the whole place to ourselves. I explored passages where one misstep would have sent me crashing through the floor; chambers where bats hung from the ceilings; an area where bees had built their Volkswagon-sized nest in the corner of a balcony; rooms where walls were crumbling into heaps. I also saw the beauty of what the palace once was: brilliantly painted wall murals with the paint slowly fading; stained glass windows; rooms covered with mirrored tiles. Above the palace on top of the hill was a huge fort, and there were secret passages leading from the palace to the fort that the royals would use in times of warfare. Unfortunately, we were not permitted to explore these tunnels as they had not yet been opened to the public. However, we were allowed to explore two “off limit” areas of the palace: 1) a part which was very dangerous because of extreme decay (it was a huge area with rooms and passageways and steps everywhere), and 2) through a metal trap door we encountered an stunningly gorgeous outdoor garden with green grass, flowers of many varieties and a large, albeit empty, manmade fishing pool. Along one side of the garden was a large open room painted with the most beautiful scenes of early Indian life.
(Click on the images below to view.)
Sukh Mahal
In the afternoon, some of us took a large Jeep to see Sukh Mahal (meaning Palace of Bliss), the Maharaja’s summer palace, located on the bank of Jait Sagarwhich lake. The palace didn’t look like a palace at all; it was basically just several rooms where the maharaja would spend only a few hours a day. The palace also played host to the famous British writer Rudyard Kipling who got inspiration to write his novel, Kim, while visiting the summer palace. (This is where I tripped and fell going up some steps and banged my camera. I must have jarred something inside the camera body because it never worked the same after this little accident.)
(Click on the images below to view.)
(Click on the images below to view.)
Shikar Burj
Shikar Burj Royal Hunting Lodge.
Upon leaving Sukh Mahal, we drove to the Maharaja’s royal hunting lodge, Shikar Burj, which was quite spectacular. The most interesting thing about it was the very large manmade watering hole, where the wildlife would come to drink and the Maharaja would “hunt” them from the tower atop the lodge. However, during my visit the watering hole looked like a cesspool where the locals were doing their laundry and bathing.
The other interesting thing about Shikar Burj was the number of monkeys that had made the lodge their hone. When we arrived, one of the guides “shooed” the monkeys out of the lodge. Literally hundreds came pouring out of every opening and ran off. It was a wonder to see! They weren't gone for long; they soon started returning to the lodge.
(Click on the images below to view.)
The other interesting thing about Shikar Burj was the number of monkeys that had made the lodge their hone. When we arrived, one of the guides “shooed” the monkeys out of the lodge. Literally hundreds came pouring out of every opening and ran off. It was a wonder to see! They weren't gone for long; they soon started returning to the lodge.
(Click on the images below to view.)
Kesar Bagh
We then drove to Kesar Bagh, a “garden” created to house 66 cenotaphs of Bundi’s rulers and their queens and princes. The first cenotaph was built in 1581 and the last in 1821. Here is the resting place of all past Bundi maharajas and the very “royal” pavilions built to honor them. Again, this place had fallen into complete disrepair, but the many memorials were really beautiful. Most of the centopahs were of white marble, their ceilings, pillars and sides delicately carved with motifs of elephants, horses, gods and everyday life. The main cenotaph is topped with a Shiva linga (phallus),a feature commonly seen in most Rajput architecture. We were the only visitors at Kesar Bagh, and while there, I wandered away from the rest of my traveling companions to do some exploring on my own. While walking in a remote part of Kesar Bagh, I came upon a man who was sweeping leaves and other debris from the pathways. He did not speak English, so he started talking to me in Hindi (I’m supposing) and beckoned me to follow him. He then took me all around the grounds and showed me things that I would not have seen on my own. It was a most enjoyable “tour.”
(Click on the images below to view.)
(Click on the images below to view.)
Bundi Step Wells
We all jumped back into the Jeep and then returned to Bundi. Back at our hotel, we joined the rest of our fellow travelers and walked to see the baoris, or step wells, located in the center of town. Bundi is known for its step wells – huge water wells with steps leading down into them – which today seem to serve as trash receptacles and homes for pigeons. Again, they looked like they were beautiful years ago, but like everything else in India, they have become nothing but huge cesspools. It was such a shame that the beauty that was once India is no more.
Anyways, here’s a little information on the step wells of Bundi: In ancient times, reservoirs, lakes and tanks were the chief sources of drinking water. It was a common sight to see women travelling distances with their pitchers and pots to collect water. These step wells doubled as socializing centers where women would meet other women and spend time interacting. The step wells therefore became integral to everyday life in Bundi. The step wells were the main source of drinking water until the piped supply system was introduced. The step wells bear designs of leaves, birds and flowers on the walls, and every step well in Bundi has carvings of Ganesh on one side and Saraswati on the other. These were also constructed as the rulers wanted Bundi to reflect its beauty in the waters.
(Click on images below to view.)
Anyways, here’s a little information on the step wells of Bundi: In ancient times, reservoirs, lakes and tanks were the chief sources of drinking water. It was a common sight to see women travelling distances with their pitchers and pots to collect water. These step wells doubled as socializing centers where women would meet other women and spend time interacting. The step wells therefore became integral to everyday life in Bundi. The step wells were the main source of drinking water until the piped supply system was introduced. The step wells bear designs of leaves, birds and flowers on the walls, and every step well in Bundi has carvings of Ganesh on one side and Saraswati on the other. These were also constructed as the rulers wanted Bundi to reflect its beauty in the waters.
(Click on images below to view.)
Dinner and Destruction
For dinner, we all took tuk tuks to an old Haveli that had been converted into a restaurant. As we walked through the tranquil interior of the Haveli, we suddenly were on a large flagstone patio overlooking a lake, which was largely dried up because of several bad (dry) monsoon seasons. But this didn’t matter because it was dark. A large table and chairs had been set up for us to have dinner. We were the only people there. It was a magical place. The temperature had cooled off considerably from the heat of the day, which was uncharacteristically in the 90s. For dinner I ordered a pot of masala tea, a banana pancake and a vegetable spring roll. I got my tea first and had drunk the entire pot before my dinner came. I was so full of tea that I could only eat a third of my pancake.
Over dinner, Chandra told us all about the Indian caste system. It was very interesting. The caste system is a rigid class structure based on Hinduism which is found in India. It is believed that if one leads a good life, following good karma and dharma, then they will be rewarded by being reincarnated as a person belonging to the next highest level in the caste system. However, if one is wicked during their life, they will be demoted, and possibly even removed from the caste system altogether. The Indian caste system consists of four castes: Brahmin, the highest caste; Kshatryia, the second highest caste; followed by the Vaisya caste; and then the Sudra caste. Dalits, formerly called Outcasts or Untouchables, are members of Hindu society thought to have been removed from the Caste System, with no hope of returning to it, due to their misdeeds in previous lives. Work that is deemed unclean for all other Hindus is reserved for these Outcasts.
While the Hindu scriptures do endorse the caste system, none of them endorse caste-based discrimination. After winning its independence from Great Britain in 1947, India adopted a national constitution which stated that "Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden." Since that time, many caste reforms have been enacted to diminish discriminatory practices in India. Today, the caste system still exists in practice, despite the many laws designed to legally abolish it.
Over dinner, Chandra told us all about the Indian caste system. It was very interesting. The caste system is a rigid class structure based on Hinduism which is found in India. It is believed that if one leads a good life, following good karma and dharma, then they will be rewarded by being reincarnated as a person belonging to the next highest level in the caste system. However, if one is wicked during their life, they will be demoted, and possibly even removed from the caste system altogether. The Indian caste system consists of four castes: Brahmin, the highest caste; Kshatryia, the second highest caste; followed by the Vaisya caste; and then the Sudra caste. Dalits, formerly called Outcasts or Untouchables, are members of Hindu society thought to have been removed from the Caste System, with no hope of returning to it, due to their misdeeds in previous lives. Work that is deemed unclean for all other Hindus is reserved for these Outcasts.
While the Hindu scriptures do endorse the caste system, none of them endorse caste-based discrimination. After winning its independence from Great Britain in 1947, India adopted a national constitution which stated that "Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden." Since that time, many caste reforms have been enacted to diminish discriminatory practices in India. Today, the caste system still exists in practice, despite the many laws designed to legally abolish it.
We were having a great time at dinner until Chandra got a text message on his cell phone that terrorists had set off 3 bombs in Varanasi, India, just a few minutes before. Though we weren’t near Varanasi (we were about 800-1000 kilometers from there), it was still a sobering reminder that we couldn’t escape terrorism. This didn’t affect my trip, but James and Pete were going to Varanasi in a week. Also, it meant that we could possibly have some trouble in Pushkar since it is only 15 kilometers from Muslim-controlled territory.
Before I went to bed, I sent a quick email to everyone back home in the U.S. letting them know that we were not affected by the bombings and that we were okay.
Email
Hi Guys,You may have heard that there were just three bomb blasts in Varanasi, India. I wanted to let you know that we are in Bundi, quite a ways from Varanasi, which is in the east. We are all okay and still enjoying ourselves. I am now over the flu, but am extremely exhausted. I think it is the heat. The weather in the north has been very pleasant, but today it was in the 90's! I'll write more when I have time. It is 10:30 pm India time, and I have to catch a train tomorrow morning at 6:50 am. I hope there are not any roaches this time!!! I love you and will see you in a week. Love, Mom
Article from The Hindu
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Mach 08, 2006
Bomb blasts rock Varanasi, 21 killed
Varanasi: Three bomb explosions ripped through this holy city, killing at least 21 persons and injuring 62 others at a crowded temple and a railway station.
The police found two other bombs near the city's main cremation site on the banks of the Ganga.
Immediately after the blasts, the police were put on high alert in several parts of the country and security was stepped up at places of worship, vital installations and government buildings.
Temple was crowded
The first blast took place inside the Sankat Mochan temple adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The bomb went off around 6.30 p.m. when the temple was teeming with devotees during the evening pooja. An eyewitness said a marriage ceremony was in progress at the temple.
``The blast was so powerful that it could be heard across the town ... we have moved five or six badly-burned dead,'' he said.
``Everyone was running. There were corpses lying around,'' another witness told a television news channel. ``There was almost a stampede.''
Rescue workers struggled in the city's narrow lanes to cart out the victims, said the people on the scene.
Minutes later, another bomb went off in the holding area of platform one of the Cantonment railway station.
The third blast occurred in a crowded coach of the Shiv Ganga Express just before it was to leave for New Delhi. The compartment was packed with people going on vacation ahead of the Holi.
An official said 10 persons died at the temple and 11 at the railway station. Eight of them were women, he said.
``We are counting the bodies as they are coming in. There is confusion everywhere and all I can say of now is that three of the eight are young girls,'' he told AFP by telephone.
Around 62 people were injured, some in critical condition, he said.
Kalam appeals for calm
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam condemned the blasts and appealed for calm and peace.
A Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman said the President condoled the loss of lives and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families.
He wished the injured speedy recovery.
``The President is sure that the State Government is taking all possible steps to help the victims and to maintain peace there,'' he said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the incidents were ``mindless acts of terrorism'' and expressed her deep concern and anguish at the loss of lives.
Ex gratia
A red alert has been sounded in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav announced an ex gratia relief for the victims and appealed to the people to maintain peace and order.
In a statement in Lucknow, he said the culprits would not be spared. ``Stern action will be initiated against all those found involved in the incident.''
He announced an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to those killed in the blasts, Rs. 1 lakh to those seriously injured and Rs. 50,000 to those with minor injuries.
Patrolling has been intensified throughout the State, especially in those areas where communal clashes took place last Friday.
Before I went to bed, I sent a quick email to everyone back home in the U.S. letting them know that we were not affected by the bombings and that we were okay.
Hi Guys,You may have heard that there were just three bomb blasts in Varanasi, India. I wanted to let you know that we are in Bundi, quite a ways from Varanasi, which is in the east. We are all okay and still enjoying ourselves. I am now over the flu, but am extremely exhausted. I think it is the heat. The weather in the north has been very pleasant, but today it was in the 90's! I'll write more when I have time. It is 10:30 pm India time, and I have to catch a train tomorrow morning at 6:50 am. I hope there are not any roaches this time!!! I love you and will see you in a week. Love, Mom
Article from The Hindu
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Mach 08, 2006
Bomb blasts rock Varanasi, 21 killed
Varanasi: Three bomb explosions ripped through this holy city, killing at least 21 persons and injuring 62 others at a crowded temple and a railway station.
The police found two other bombs near the city's main cremation site on the banks of the Ganga.
Immediately after the blasts, the police were put on high alert in several parts of the country and security was stepped up at places of worship, vital installations and government buildings.
Temple was crowded
The first blast took place inside the Sankat Mochan temple adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The bomb went off around 6.30 p.m. when the temple was teeming with devotees during the evening pooja. An eyewitness said a marriage ceremony was in progress at the temple.
``The blast was so powerful that it could be heard across the town ... we have moved five or six badly-burned dead,'' he said.
``Everyone was running. There were corpses lying around,'' another witness told a television news channel. ``There was almost a stampede.''
Rescue workers struggled in the city's narrow lanes to cart out the victims, said the people on the scene.
Minutes later, another bomb went off in the holding area of platform one of the Cantonment railway station.
The third blast occurred in a crowded coach of the Shiv Ganga Express just before it was to leave for New Delhi. The compartment was packed with people going on vacation ahead of the Holi.
An official said 10 persons died at the temple and 11 at the railway station. Eight of them were women, he said.
``We are counting the bodies as they are coming in. There is confusion everywhere and all I can say of now is that three of the eight are young girls,'' he told AFP by telephone.
Around 62 people were injured, some in critical condition, he said.
Kalam appeals for calm
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam condemned the blasts and appealed for calm and peace.
A Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman said the President condoled the loss of lives and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families.
He wished the injured speedy recovery.
``The President is sure that the State Government is taking all possible steps to help the victims and to maintain peace there,'' he said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the incidents were ``mindless acts of terrorism'' and expressed her deep concern and anguish at the loss of lives.
Ex gratia
A red alert has been sounded in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav announced an ex gratia relief for the victims and appealed to the people to maintain peace and order.
In a statement in Lucknow, he said the culprits would not be spared. ``Stern action will be initiated against all those found involved in the incident.''
He announced an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to those killed in the blasts, Rs. 1 lakh to those seriously injured and Rs. 50,000 to those with minor injuries.
Patrolling has been intensified throughout the State, especially in those areas where communal clashes took place last Friday.