Rescue teams, doctors yet to reach quake affected areas

New Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) Around 400 personnel of National
Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of India and a team of 20
doctors, sent to north-eastern state of Sikkim for rescue and
relief operations, have not been able to yet reach the
quake-hit areas due to blockade of roads following landslides,
officials said on Monday.
Five teams of NDRF consisting of 203 personnel along
with necessary rescue equipment, who have been dispatched from
Delhi, reached Bagdogra in West Bengal this morning, they
said.
"They are still held up at the transit camp in Bagdogra
due to landslides which have blocked roads at various places
along the highway," a Home Ministry spokesperson said.
Another five teams of NDRF consisting of 200 personnel
have left Kolkata. Of them, 100 personnel have arrived at
Bagdogra while another 100 personnel were expected to land
there shortly.
Officials said over 700 personnel of Indo-Tibetan Border
Police were already engaged in rescue and relief operations in
Sikkim.
A medical team comprising four surgeons, seven
orthopaedics, five anaesthetists, two neuro-surgeons and two
other specialists which has been sent for Sikkim from Delhi
reached Bagdogra this morning.
They too have not been able to reach the affected areas
and are held up at Bagdogra due to landslide causing road
blockage, officials said.
As per official information received by the Home
Ministry, 14 people have lost their lives and 94 others have
been injured in the quake. Sikkim has officially reported
seven deaths and 64 injured, Bihar has reported two deaths,
West Bengal five deaths and 29 injured while one person has
been injured in Assam.
"The state governments are ascertaining the extent of
damage," the spokesperson said.
States of Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram have been affected by
the 6.8 magnitude tremblor.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has conveyed that
there have been 16 landslides on a stretch of 10 km in Sikkim
and efforts were on to clear the roads.
"The situation is being closely monitored and every
possible assistance is being extended to the state
governments," the spokesman said.