6-member expert committee to ascertain stability of North Sikkim towns

GANGTOK, 25 Sept: State government has formed a six-member expert group who will fly to Lachung and Chungthang on Monday to ascertain the stability of the land there. They will prepare a report of the land stability and submit it to the government, informed the State Government spokesperson, IPR Secretary KS Topgay today.
This expert committee is headed by the retired Principal Director, Tshering Tashi, and has UD&HD Additional Chief Engineer, Devika Sharma Chettri, Seismologist Dr Amita Singhal from IIT Roorkee, Geo Technical Engineers Dr DK Maheswari and Dr Yogendra Singh from IIT Roorkee as members.
The committee, it is informed, was formed in response to people’s fears about the stability of the North Sikkim towns. These fears, sparked by rumours and misinformation have reached near panic levels and a study by experts was hence commissioned.
The group is scheduled to fly out to Lachung in the first helicopter sortie out of Gangtok on Monday.
Meanwhile, Joint Director, Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department, GC Khanal, informed that the Union Home Ministry has provided detachable tents for North Sikkim of which two are expected to reach Gangtok on Monday.