Slide obliterates 3 buildings at Kumrek

LABOURER TRAPPED INSIDE COLLAPSED BUILDING RESCUED AFTER 8-HOUR BATTLE WITH DEBRIS AND SLUSH
RANGPO, 14 Aug: Heavy overnight rainfall pushed down a devastating landslide here at Kumrek, about 4 kms from Rangpo towards Rhenock, early this morning. The slide directly affected three buildings and presented a dreadful sight, the overpowering emotion of the day was of victory - in that the search and rescue efforts registered the miraculous feat of extracting a trapped victim after an 8-hour long struggle.
A two-storeyed building belonging to Somnath Dhakal was flattened by the slide; an under-construction building next to it belonging to Tenzing Sherpa was completely buried and a third building, belonging to Bhim Chettri, above the spot from where the landslide peeled away, has been rendered too dangerous to continue living in.
SDM [Gangtok], Dr. AB Karki, confirmed that the incident occurred at around 5 a.m. when the entire locality was served a rude awakening by the nerve-wracking roar of the landslide.
The building which took a direct hit and was demolished by the force of the landslide had 20 labourers sleeping inside. One of them was however awake at the time and raised an alarm in time. His actions ensured that everyone escape the building before it collapsed and only one of them, Rabi Roy, sustained injuries, which were minor in nature and he was discharged after treatment at the District Hospital, Singtam.
Unfortunately, the person who raised the alarm, Bibhushan Mandal, was himself trapped when the building collapsed.
Even as panic and concern spread through the area, the rescuers arriving at the spot confirmed that Mr. Mandal was still alive inside, but his escape blocked by loads of debris and slush.
Rescue teams of the Fire & Emergency Service, Disaster Management Cell, Civil Defence, Sikkim Police and lay people were soon at the spot and immediately launched a massive rescue operation with earth movers and industrial cutters plied into service.
The SDM informs that the rescuers were constantly in touch with the trapped labourer through the entire ordeal and doctors from the Rangpo PHC and supplementary oxygen were at hand for assistance. With the air supply in the pocket in which Mr. Mandal was trapped running out, the oxygen cylinders brought to the spot were pressed into service.
Finally, at 1 p.m., after eight hours of being trapped, Mr. Mandal emerged from the collapsed building to a spontaneous applause from the gathered people and everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
The area MLA, Commerce & Industries Minister, Neeru Sewa, was also at the site through the rescue operation accompanied by the SDM, the Duga BDO Purshottam Pradhan, SDPO Rangpo RK Sundas, ASP (East) Y Bhutia.
Of the three buildings affected, only the one [above the slide] belonging to Mr. Chettri had people living in it. The family has been shifted to a nearby ICDS Centre because their house is no longer safe enough to live in.
[from SANJAY AGARWAL]