At least 50 people, including 23 people in Sikkim were killed in the earthquake that triggered widespread landslides and road bloackages making the rescue work more difficult on the worst hit Himalayan state. Major General S L Narasimhan told the reporters that another eight peole who were travelling in a bus is believed to be dead as their vehicle got under the debri of a landslide caused by the 6.8 magnitude tremblor last evening.
Official reports said that the overnight toll climbed to 50, with 23 people being killed in Sikkim, six in West Bengal and seven each in Bihar, Nepal and Tibet.
They said that over hundred peope has been injured in the earthquake which has devastated Sikkim, causing hindrances in relief work because of landslides and road blockades.
Narasimhan also said that the army has launched 'Operation Madad' in Gangtok and other areas by deploying over 2,000 troops. He said that around 44 columns of army are working in various parts of Sikkim, while another 15 are in the east district of the state. They are also sending teams to Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
He said that two districts in Sikkim has remained inaccesible to the army, delaying the rescue work. He also added that the local authorities were carrying out the relief work and the army commanders stationed there has to be alert.
Officials said that the casualities has occurred mostly in North Districts andin towns and villages like Rangpo, Dikchu, Singtam and Chungthang located along the course of Teesta river.
Narasimhan said that a group of 14 tourists were rescued by the army from north Sikkim last night. In Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced Rupees two lakhs as ex-gratia to next of kin of those who killed in the earthquake and rupees one lakh each for those who are seriously injured.
News Reported by AR for Newsvision online Newspaper
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