Relief, rescue operations on in quake-hit states: Home Ministry

New Delhi, Sep 20 (ANI): The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday informed that massive relief and rescue operations are on in the quake-affected states of Sikkim, Bihar and West Bengal.

"The road from Gangtok to Mangan is open. The road from Mangan to Chungthan is yet to be opened. The damage to the road is reported to be heavy," said a Home Ministry release.

Two rescue teams of 30 personnel each from Jat Regiment were airdropped at Mangan and Chungthan yesterday for search and rescue. The team has started work. A team of 10 doctors from Delhi has reached Chungthan," the release adds.

The ministry said that the number of deaths as reported by the Sikkim Government is 50, and added that this may increase further as rescue and relief teams reach into the interiors.

"The break-up is as follows: East Sikkim-12 (Rangpo - 1, Singtam - 2, Chubakola - 5, 15th Mile - 2, Sang - 1, Makha - 1); North District -33 (Mangan/Lachan - 10, Toong - 4, Chungthan - 10, Salimpokyel - 9) West District -4 (Mangalbaria -2, Geyzing -1, Kalukh-1); South District -1 (jorethang -1)," said the release.

The number of deaths in West Bengal (Darjeelling - 8, Jalpaigudi - 1, North West Dinajpur - 3) and Bihar (Nawada - 1, Nalanda - 1, Darbhanga -1, Shivhar -1 and Samastipur -2) are reported to be 12 and 6, respectively," the release adds.

Arrangements are being made to airlift another NDRF team to Chungthan.

"Five teams of NDRF were placed at Gangtok yesterday. One team has left for Mangan at 7.15 a.m. today. Arrangements are being made to airlift another NDRF team to Chungthan," the release said.

"Two choppers are being pressed into service with the officials of NDRF and State Govt. for aerial surveillance of affected areas and to ascertain the damage and casualties. Food packets have been airdropped in the Northern areas of North District this morning," the release adds.

The Sikkim Government has opened relief camps in each district and senior Secretaries of the State Government have been deputed in each district.

One Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Home Affairs has been deputed to Sikkim to coordinate the relief operations.

A powerful earthquake with a 6.8 magnitude hit Sikkim and several areas in the eastern part of the country and neighbouring Nepal on Sunday evening.

The States of Sikkim, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram were affected in this earthquake.

The epicentre of the quake was located at Mangan and Sakyong areas, over 50 kilometres from Gangtok on the Sikkim-Nepal border.

Tremors were also felt in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Delhi.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had earlier spoken to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and offered help in all possible ways. (ANI)