Update on Earthquake as at 6:00 p.m. on 19.09.2011

Ø An earthquake of following intensities has occurred in Sikkim :-
Sl.No.
Date
Time
Magnitude
Latitude & Longitude

1.
18.09.2011
1811 hrs
6.8
27.7°N 88.2° E

2.
18.09.2011
1821 hrs
6.1
27.5º N 87.5º E

3.
18.09.2011
1842 hrs
5.3
27.7º N 88.5° E




Ø The states of Sikkim, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram were affected in this earthquake.


Ø Meetings of National Crisis Management Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary were held at 1930 hrs on 18.9.2011 and 1000 hrs today (i.e. 19.9.2011) to review the situation caused by earth quake.


STATUS OF DAMAGE:


Ø Information received from Govt of Sikkim, there are 32 deaths (excluding 2 from the army), 75 people reported to be injured, 6 persons are reported to be still trapped. Latest report also indicate 01 Junior Engineer of Border Road Organization has died on way to land slide area.
Ø Information from State Govt. of Bihar 02 death, West Bengal 07 death & 29 injured while one person reported to be injured in Assam.


ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY STATE GOVT SIKKIM


Ø State Government of Sikkim has announced ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lacs per deceased, Rs. 50,000/- for major injuries and Rs. 30,000 for minor injuries.
Ø Teams have been deployed to all 04 districts to assess damage. Medical aid, supply of drinking water and essential commodities not affected. Supplementary assistance being organized. Sufficient stock diesel, Petrol and Kerosene available.


Ø The arrangement for airdropping of food packets tied up with the State Govt of West Bengal and is being done from Siliguri. Purnia in Bihar also identified as back up for food dropping. The State Govt of West Bengal has been told to provide all help to the Sikkim Government.


Ø The bad weather, heavy rain, low visibility affecting the air support/air efforts in the affected areas.
ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY GOVT. OF INDIA
NDRF
Ø 05 Teams of NDRF consisting of 203 personnel along with necessary rescue equipments have been deployed Ex-Delhi and reached Bagdogra by 0308 hrs on 19.09.2011.
Ø Another 05 Teams of NDRF consisting of 200 personnel along with necessary rescue equipments have been deployed Ex-Kolkata, who have already reached Bagdogra.
Ø 05 teams have proceeded from Siliguri to Gangtok.
ITBP
Ø A strength of 712 personnel of ITBP are already engaged in rescue and relief operation in Sikkim.

Food Supply
Ø Air dropping of food packets from Siliguri organised for Mangan Distt.

MEDICAL AID
Ø A medical team comprising of 20 Doctors (Surgeon –04, Orthopaedician - 07, Anaesthesian - 05, Neuro-Surgeon -02 and medicine -02 ) left for Sikkim from Ex-Delhi and reached Bagdogra at 0430 hrs on 19.09.2011. Further they are held at Bagdogra (circuit house) due to Land Slide causing road blockage at various places in the highway.
Ø A team of 10 doctors have left for Mangan Districts.
Ø 4.5 tonnes of medicines/other supplies being dispatched
STATUS OF ROAD
Ø National Highway No.31-A from Siliguri to Gangtok has been opened.
Ø 120 columns of army including 10 engineering columns have been deployed in restoration / relief work.
Ø The road between Gangtok and Changthang (16 land slides) and Gangtok and Nathula (12 land slides) are likely to take time.
Ø Blockades at National Highway No. 55 in West Bengal connecting Darjeeling to Siliguri (2 land slides) being removed.


TELECOMMUNICATION


Ø In the telecommunication sector, out of the 489 Mobile towers, 216 are non-functional. Land line connections and Microwave links are working. The service providers affected are Vodafone 60%, Reliance 46%, Idea 10%, Aircel-100%, Airtel-10% and BSNL-26%.


POWER


Ø Power situation has improved in the meanwhile. All the major power generating stations i.e. Teestha stage-V, Rangit, Chukha and Ramman with a total capacity of 845 MW have been made operational. 220 KV lines have been fully restored. Power supply (20 MW) to Gangtok is available. However, 66 KV lines from Gangtok to Tadong is yet to be restored for which M/Power has given instructions to the Powergrid personnel to help the State Electricity Board in the restoration work.


Chief Secretary, Sikkim has been advised to open community shelters and feeding centres in inaccessible pockets. At present, 1500 persons have taken shelter in Army camps and 10 langers are being run to feed them.


Chief Secretary, West Bengal has been advised to keep enough quantity of packets of dry foods, matchboxes, candle and medicines, ready at the Siliguri for air dropping.


Necessary instructions have been issued to the concerned for prioritization of traffic on National Highway 31A as soon as it opens by facilitating the movement of relief and response teams.


MHA officials along with NDMA and NDRF personnel have been working round the clock since the time of occurrence of earthquake to mobilize and facilitate response teams. The situation is being closely monitored and every possible assistance is being extended to the State Government.
*********
RS/-

(Release ID :76088)