Road to Mangan reopened, rescue team reach interiors

New Delhi, Sept 20 (PTI) Two days after the devastating
earthquake struck Sikkim, the road connecting worst affected
Mangan has been reopened and the death toll is likely to climb
as rescue and relief teams reach the interiors of the
Himalayan state.
Indian Home Secretary R K Singh, however, said the road
from Mangan to Chungthan was still closed as it has suffered
heavy damage.
"The road from Gangtok to Mangan is open. The number of
deaths as reported by the Sikkim government is 50. This
may increase further as rescue and relief teams reach the
interiors," he told reporters here.
Two rescue teams of 30 personnel each from Jat Regiment
were airlifted to Mangan and Chungthan yesterday for search
and rescue and they has started their work.
"A team of 10 doctors from Delhi has reached Chungthan,"
he said.
The Home Secretary said five teams of National Disaster
Response Force were placed at Gangtok and one of them has left
for Mangan this morning while arrangements are being made to
airlift another NDRF team to Chungthan.
Besides, Singh said, two choppers were being pressed into
service with the officials of NDRF and the Sikkim government
for aerial survey of affected areas to ascertain the damage
and casualties.
The Sikkim government has conveyed that they have opened
relief camps in each district and senior secretaries of the
state government have been deputed in each district.
The Home Ministry too has deputed a Joint Secretary to
Sikkim to coordinate the relief operations.
"Food packets have been airdropped in the northern areas
of North District this morning," Singh said.