Sikkim Quack: Toll reaches 90, massive relieve rescue operation on


Sep 20, 7:23 PM


Massive relief and rescue operations are on in the Quake affected States of Sikkim, Bihar and West Bengal. The death toll in Sunday's earthquake in the country has gone up to 90 with fifty eight deaths in Sikkim, 20 in Bihar and 12 in West Bengal.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, the Union Home secretary R K Singh on Tuesday said five team of National Disaster Response Force, NDRF, have reached Mangan. Mr Singh said communication network has been restored in the state. He said roads from Gangtok to Mangan have also been opened.
The National Disaster Management Authority, NDMA’s Joint Advisor, Operation, Colonel Shashi Bhusan told AIR correspondent that out of ten NDRF teams sent to Sikkim, five are already working in the interior areas of northern part of the state and the remaining five NDRF teams are on stand by at Bagdogra and will be sent to the field if needed.
AIR correspondent reports,over 5,000 troops, six transport aircraft and a total of 15 helicopters have been deployed by the armed forces in Sikkim to carry out relief operations.
In Sikkim, the death toll in the massive earthquake, that rocked Sikkim on Sunday, has now risen to fifty eight. The death figures in the worst affected North Sikkim district have increased to forty one. Twelve deaths have been reported from the East district and four from West district. One death has been reported from the South district.
In West Bengal, relief and restoration works are on at quake affected Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur district. The State Disaster Management Minister, Mr.Javed Khan told newspersons in Kolkata on Tuesday evening that over two lakhs five thousand people have been affected in four districts. More than 63 thousand houses were damaged by the tremor. The State Government has sent a special team at Lachung in Sikkim to rescue 68 stranded tourists. Twelve persons have died in quake related incidents in the state so far.
In Bihar, relief and rescue operations are in full swing in earthquake affected areas of the state. With 12 more persons succumbing to their injuries in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Begusarai, Araria and Sitamarhi districts, the death toll due to the earthquake in the state has reached 20. The state government has instructed officials to assess the damage caused due to the quake. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday reviewed the situation with officials of Disaster Management Department and instructed the district authorities to provide all possible help to the victims.