ID :
208577
Wed, 09/21/2011 - 13:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/208577
The shortlink copeid
Quake toll 60, fears of higher casualties
Mangan (Sikkim), Sept 21 (PTI) Seven more bodies were
found in the quake rubble, taking the death toll in the
calamity in northeastern Indian state Sikkim to 60 as rescuers
Wednesday struggled to reach the devastated areas where "heavy
casualties" were feared.
Official sources said six bodies were found in East
Sikkim and one in North Sikkim, where the 6.8 magnitude
temblor was epicentred.
Fresh landslides triggered by heavy rains were reported
in the worst-affected areas of Mangan, Lachung, Lachen and
Sighthan areas of North Sikkim Tuesday night.
The landslides and landslips along the 60 km stretch
between Gangtok and Mangan along NH31A, the lifeline of the
mountain state, was affecting rescue operations in the higher
reaches in the mountains, army sources said.
Army sources said a 8-10 km stretch at Tung, which is
16 km off Mangan, had caved in impeding rescue operators from
reaching worst-hit Chungthang.
Sikkim Director General of Police Jasbir Singh said
Border Road Organisation personnel were deployed to clear the
highway.
District collectors have been asked to reach Mangan,
Lachen, Lachung and Chungthan, rendered inaccessible by the
landslides, immediately by air as more bodies are feared to be
trapped in under quake debris.
"Heavy casualties are feared in these areas," he said.
Indian Air Force continued recces in North Sikkim, where
relief material was airdropped Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the bus missing with 24 passengers and crew
was rescued from Tung Tuesday night.
Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and
disaster management personnel walked to Tung, between quake
epi-centre Mangan and Chungthang and rescued the people in the
bus Tuesday night. However, one person in the bus had died,
official sources said.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary
Rahul Gandhi has, meanwhile, reached Bagdogra Airport in West
Bengal on way to Gangtok, the Sikkim DGP said.
Inclement weather delayed his arrival by about two
hours.
Gandhi is scheduled to visit worst-hit Chungthang during
the day, he added.
found in the quake rubble, taking the death toll in the
calamity in northeastern Indian state Sikkim to 60 as rescuers
Wednesday struggled to reach the devastated areas where "heavy
casualties" were feared.
Official sources said six bodies were found in East
Sikkim and one in North Sikkim, where the 6.8 magnitude
temblor was epicentred.
Fresh landslides triggered by heavy rains were reported
in the worst-affected areas of Mangan, Lachung, Lachen and
Sighthan areas of North Sikkim Tuesday night.
The landslides and landslips along the 60 km stretch
between Gangtok and Mangan along NH31A, the lifeline of the
mountain state, was affecting rescue operations in the higher
reaches in the mountains, army sources said.
Army sources said a 8-10 km stretch at Tung, which is
16 km off Mangan, had caved in impeding rescue operators from
reaching worst-hit Chungthang.
Sikkim Director General of Police Jasbir Singh said
Border Road Organisation personnel were deployed to clear the
highway.
District collectors have been asked to reach Mangan,
Lachen, Lachung and Chungthan, rendered inaccessible by the
landslides, immediately by air as more bodies are feared to be
trapped in under quake debris.
"Heavy casualties are feared in these areas," he said.
Indian Air Force continued recces in North Sikkim, where
relief material was airdropped Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the bus missing with 24 passengers and crew
was rescued from Tung Tuesday night.
Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and
disaster management personnel walked to Tung, between quake
epi-centre Mangan and Chungthang and rescued the people in the
bus Tuesday night. However, one person in the bus had died,
official sources said.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary
Rahul Gandhi has, meanwhile, reached Bagdogra Airport in West
Bengal on way to Gangtok, the Sikkim DGP said.
Inclement weather delayed his arrival by about two
hours.
Gandhi is scheduled to visit worst-hit Chungthang during
the day, he added.
