Rescue team cover worst-hit Sikkim, 4 roads

Rescue teams have covered almost all earthquake affected areas in worst-hit North Sikkim though four key roads, which connect different parts of the region, continued to remain blocked following Sunday's natural disaster.

Home Ministry officials said that rescue team of National Disaster Response Force, ITBP, Army and other volunteers covered most of the villages in North Sikkim and were of the opinion that death toll may not go up.

71 people were killed and 58 injured in Sikkim in the quake, according to the state government.

Most of the employees and labourers of the Teesta Hydro Electro Project have been counted for and fears of recovery of more bodies in and around the construction site have been dispelled by the rescuers.

Four pregnant women were shifted by ITBP to Mangan Chungthang hospitals. Rescue teams also evacuated 18 more Indian tourists from Rangma Range and nine civilian workers of Teesta project from Pegong. Power supply in Sikkim has been normal except in the some parts of North district. The death toll in North District is 54, West District four and South District one. 12 people died in East District. Ten teams of NDRF comprising 403 personnel along with necessary equipment have been deployed for search and rescue operations. Three teams of NDRF which were located at Gangtok have moved to Mangan and two teams located at Mangan have been deployed for search and rescue operations in villages Ramam, Lingzya and Dzongu.

Two teams of NDRF comprising 14 personnel and 16 personnel each have been deployed at Chungthan and Lachung respectively.

The doctors of the NDRF team deployed at Mangan with medical detachment have set up a medial relief camp at Manul Mangan.

Rescue team cover worst-hit Sikkim, 4 roads
Altogether 827 ITBP personnel are engaged in rescue operations and have also set up relief camps where villagers have been given shelter.

The state government has opened relief camps in each district. 2700 and 550 people have been provided shelter in srmy camps and ITBP camp (Pengong) respectively.

A total of 5,500 army personnel located in Sikkim have been pressed into relief and rescue operations. Out of this, 94 army columns (strength of columns varies from 15-40 personnel each) have been deployed for rescue operation.

Rescue columns comprising 281 personnel deployed at Mangan have set up Integrated Command Centre.

A total of 94 villages have been physically covered by the team of army jawans in their search and rescue operations. Twenty-one Engineer columns have been deployed for restoration of communication on national highways in conjunction with BRO.

A total of 940 civilians have been treated at Military hospitals. 28 civilians evacuated by army helicopters are currently under treatment at military hospitals. More than 2,400 food packets have been air-dropped in the northern part of North District.

Fifteen helicopters of Army and Air Force have been pressed into relief work. For airdropping and reconnaissance, 100 sorties have been carried out so far.

The following roads have also been opened for traffic : National Highway 31-A from Siliguri to Gangtok, National Highway 55 - Darjeeling to Siliguri, Gangtok - Rangrang and Mangan, Mangan - Chugthan, Gangtok - Natu La, Damdim - Alagarh - Rishi - Pedong and Kupup - Nathu La.

Around 3000 blankets, 400 tents, 200 stoves, 500 tarpaulin and several water purifier have been dispatched to the affected areas.