Rescue team cover worst-hit North Sikkim,4 roads still blocked

New Delhi, Sept 22 (PTI) Rescue teams have covered almost
all earthquake affected areas in worst-hit North Sikkim though
four key roads, which connect different parts of the eastern
Indian region, continued to remain blocked on Thursday
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.
However, four key roads -- Chungthang-Lachen, Chungthan
-Lachung, Pedong-Kupup and Rangpo-Rorathang -- are still
blocked due to landslide and Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
and Army Engineers are working on their restoration.
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.
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. 2,700 and 550 people have been provided shelter in
army 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.