September 19, 2011 6:15 PM

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Death toll rises to 49 in Earthquake

The death toll on Sunday evening's earthquake has risen to 49 in India. 35 people have died in Sikkim on Sunday evening's powerful earthquake, eight in Bihar and six in West Bengal. The death toll in Nepal has been revised to 6 while in Tibet seven deaths have been reported. With this, total toll in the quake has risen to 62. Over a hundred people have been injured in the 6.8 magnitude quake.Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Home Secretary R. K. Singh Confirmed that the death toll on Sunday's earthquake in Sikkim has risen to 35 He said that 10 bodies have been recovered from Teesta Hydropower project at Chungthang by Indian Tibet Border Police. Detailing on the restoration work being undertaken by various agencies, the Home Secretary said that road to Gangtok has been opened to traffic besides power has been restored in the city. He said airdropping of relief material has begun in Siliguri. Mr. Singh said helicopters have been pressed into service to rescue people in distress.Earlier, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh announced two lakh rupees as ex-gratia to next of kin of those killed in the earthquake. One lakh rupees will be given to those seriously injured.AIR Gangtok correspondent reports six deaths have been reported from East district, West Sikkim-4 and South One. Many buildings have been damaged. The Chief Minister, Mr. Pawan Kumar Chamling has announced an ex-gratia payment of five lakh rupees each to the next of the kin of each of the deceased persons. He has also announced a financial assistance of 50,000 each for the seriously injured persons and 25,000 rupees each to the persons with minor injuries.Army spokesperson Colonel A.S. Chauhan said in New Delhi that over 5,000 troops and nine helicopters have been deployed by the army for carrying out rescue and relief operations in quake-hit Sikkim. 5,000 troops in 105 columns and four ALH Dhruv and five Cheetah helicopters have been deployed in the relief operations by the army in the state.The Indian Air Force, deployed five aircrafts for relief operations. 712 personnel of ITBP are already engaged in rescue and relief operations.The Border Security Force has also deployed its expert rescuers in the rescue and relief operations. In Bihar, one more person succumbed to his injuries today in Nawada district taking the death toll to eight. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an exgratia payment of rupees one lakh fifty thousand for the kin of those killed in earthquake.West Bengal government has announced two lakh rupees compensation to the next of kin of the victim in the earthquake related incidents in the state. Chief Minister Ms.Mamta Banerjee informed that the death toll in the tremor has gone up to six in the state and the government is taking all possible steps to help marooned people.

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