Blissfully unaware

As the third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) got under way in Delhi on Monday, with delegates from more than 50 African countries in attendance, a major earthquake hit north-east Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Tremors were also felt in Delhi-NCR. This prompted the African media to enquire about India's disaster preparedness and the measures taken by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure the safety of the delegates.

A former spokesperson of the MEA, now the chief coordinator of the IAFS, replied that the earthquake occurred during lunchtime, when the delegates were busy savouring an extensive spread of scrumptious Indian cuisine. He left it at that.