The death toll on Sunday evening's earthquake has risen to 50 in India. 35 people have died in Sikkim on Sunday evening's powerful earthquake, eight in Bihar and seven 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 63. 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 Indo-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 the North Sikkim district accounts for the maximum deaths i.e twenty four, followed by six in East, four in West and one death in South district. More than one hundred injured persons have been admitted to various hospitals. The Chief Minister Mr. Pawan Chamling has announced an ex- gratia payment of five lakhs rupees for the next of kin of each of the deceased persons. A financial assistance of 50,000 rupees each will be given for grievous injuries while 25,000 rupees each will be given for 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 aircraft 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.In West Bengal, the death toll in earthquake related incidents has gone up to seven. The State Disaster Management Minister Javed Khan told newspersons in Kolkata this afternoon that, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur Districts have been badly affected by the quake. The State Government has sanctioned 5 lakh rupees for relief work in these Districts. The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reviewed the situation at a high level meeting at Kurseong in Darjeeling District this afternoon. Miss Banerjee instructed the administration to repair the damaged roads in North Bengal particularly in worst hit Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling Sub-divisions on a war-footing.AIR Kolkata correspondent reports that relief and rescue operations have been hampered in Darjeeling due to heavy rains. The State Government has announced compensation of 2 lakh rupees each to the next of the kin of the dead and 50 thousand rupees each to the injured in the quake related incidents.
News On AIR | September 19, 2011 7:51 PM
‘Death toll rises to 50 in Earthquake