Army evacuates 30 critically injured to Bengdubi Army Hospital

GANGTOK, 20 Sept: In Sikkim, the death toll in the earthquake that rocked Sikkim on Sunday, has now climbed to 52. The figure in the worst affected North Sikkim district has risen to 40 from yesterday’s figure of 24. Relief and rescue operations are continuing on a war footing.
The Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh convened a high level meeting with the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and senior officials at Raj Bhavan this afternoon to take an up date of the situation. The General Officer Commanding -in- Chief of the Eastern Command of the Army, Leuitenent General Bikram Singh called on the Governor and Chief Minister and assured all help in relief and rescue operations.
Breifing newspersons, Lt. General Singh informed that some 5,500 army personnel are undertaking the relief and rescue work in the State. Three thousand of them are deployed in the North district alone. Besides, 200 more have reached Mangan by road this morning.

He told that an additional 30 army personnel were air dropped at Mangan and 25 at Chungthang to help in the operations there. He informed that army helicopters have taken 30 critically injured persons to the Army Hospital at Bengdubi near Siliguri in West Bengal which included 14 civilians.
Describing the situation in the Northern part of the district beyond Chungthang as very bad, he expressed confidence that things will normalise very soon since the worst was over. Lt Gen Singh told that 200 NDRF Personnel have reached Gangtok, while 40 have been sent onwards to Mangan.