DISTRICT AUTHORITIES TAKE STOCK OF WINDSTORM DAMAGE

19 kutcha houses damaged in East Sikkim, overhang clearing and power restoration works underway
GANGTOK, 16 Dec: Following the windstorm in the early hours of 15 December, the East District Administration has taken adequate steps to immediately restore public utilities damaged in and around the district, District Collector [East], Jitendra Singh Raje, informs.
In a press release, the DC informs that immediately after information about the damages was received, all the Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Gram Vikash Adhikaris and Revenue Surveyors were directed to report the damages caused due to the wind storm. Site inspection was carried out by the District Collector, Additional District Collector (Reforms), SDM Gangtok and DPO/DM in-and-around Gangtok. Immediate action was taken by Forest, Road & Bridges, Police Rescue Team, Civil Defense and QRT members for clearing the roads for vehicular movement.
Till now, as per reports received from the field officials, 19 Kutcha houses have been damaged out of which 5 have been fully damaged, 5 severely damaged and 9 partially damaged. Not much damage has been reported from the rural areas of the district till now, it is mentioned.
The field officials have been directed to submit the damage report within the next seven days. As of now, all roads are clear in the district and water supply is normal as per the report from the concerned departments.
90 percent of the work for removal of trees hanging and posing threat to public properties has been done as reported by DFO (T).
The restoration of power supply to the affected areas is being undertaken on a war-footing and is being monitored by the District Administration. As reported by Energy & Power Department there has been extensive damage in certain areas of the district including the outskirts of Gangtok that might take a couple of days more for restoration. The ex gratia relief to the family of the deceased girl at Bye Pass and all injured in the windstorm has been approved by the District Administration, it is informed.