Essentials in place, rehabilitation work underway in landslide ravaged North

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 08 Oct: Relief Commissioner cum Secretary Land Revenue and Disaster Management department, SBS Bhaduria, informs that the rescue and immediate relief measures in the wake of the 21 September landslides and flashfloods in north Sikkim completed, rehabilitation works are underway in earnest in the district now.
Speaking to NOW! today, the Relief Commissioner informed that hundreds of tons of essential commodities and food items have been dispatched and stored in different areas across North Sikkim including Mangan, Chungthang, Lachung and Lachen. These commodities were dispatched for the affected areas as soon as the disaster struck, it is informed.
The Relief Commissioner added that with the weather holding up over the past few days, more required relief materials could be sent to the affected areas if a need arose in the coming days.
At present, with the Mangan to Chungthang and Chungthang to Lachung road still blocked, the BRO has also set up the provision of a ropeway across Lanthey Khola, (where around 500 meters of road was destroyed and a new road is being constructed) which is facilitating transshipment of man and material.
It may be informed that the Chungthang to Lachen road is open at the moment.
“The roads have always been a problem up North, however, the BRO has assured that the Mangan- Chungthang road will be opened for vehicular traffic between 15 to 20 October and the Chungthang-Lachung road by 15 October. We are being very careful that there is no problem for the local people in the affected areas and the District Collector and the SDM’s office are doing a good job and coordinating well with all relief operations,” he stated.
While informing that the state government would initiate any required relief and rehabilitation works as soon as the DC and the SDM’s office sends a requisition, he also said that for any assistance or help required people can approach the office of the District Collector.
“It is easier for us to coordinate through the administration if any person needs help. We can coordinate better with the administration up north and can send in all relief materials easily. We are ready to help and if there is any need people can intimate us and we will arrange for the delivery,” assured the Relief Commissioner.
There are no complaints or new requisition seeking any help at the moment which is why the rescue part of the operation has been put on standby, he said. However, he added that if the need arises all infrastructure put on hold at the moment like choppers and supply of essential commodities could be resumed within minutes, provided the weather stands.
At the same time, the Commissioner also informed that the only rescue work still being carried out is by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) under the state police department.
At present, the SDRF team is carrying out a combing and rescue operation along the banks of the Teesta searching for the 7 dead bodies still missing. The operation is being coordinated by the DGP’s office. The bodies of only 14 of the 21 people killed in the 21 Sept fury of landslides have been recovered so far.

Pawan Hans to the rescue, like always

An employee of the General Mechanical Workers Company injured in the Friday landslide at the Teesta Stage III damsite at Chungthang being rushed to the waiting Pawan Hans helicopter at the Chungthang ground on Saturday. Two injured persons were air-lifted to Gangtok on Saturday. Unfortunately, one of them succumbed to his injuries later.

SUBSIDISED FLIGHTS FROM GANGTOK TO CHUNGTHANG, LACHEN AND LACHUNG AND BACK TO BEGIN THURSDAY

SAGAR CHHETRI

GANGTOK, 26 Sept: The Pawan Hans heliservice operated by the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation has proved an indispensible asset for Sikkim in times of emergencies. Its limited carrying capacity notwithstanding, when the roads snap and areas get cut off, the Pawan Hans Bell 407 helicopter invariably becomes the carrier to ferry rescue, relief and consolation. In the latest instance as well, the helicopter has been pressed into extensive service over the North Sikkim skies. Captains TS Kang and Pawan Siwach clocked in a staggering 4:50 hours of airtime on 25 September flying a total of 16 sorties between Gangtok, Mangan, Chungthang and Lachen.
The heliservice has been on relief and rescue detail in North Sikkim since 22 September, taking off from the Burtuk helicopter at 9 a.m. on Saturday and flying eight sorties up to Chungthang that day. The flurry of landslides which crashed at several places across North district began on Friday evening, it may be recalled. Between officials and injured persons ferried to and out of Chungthang that day, the helicopter also accommodated some 193 kilos of relief materials.
The chopper and the heliservice personnel have been keeping busy since then, even managing the scheduled flights to Bagdogra and back between its relief and rescue flights in the opposite direction. The pilots are managing sorties to North Sikkim before the scheduled flights to Bagdogra and then returning to carry on the North Sikkim mission.
The helicopter has been carrying locals, Army and GREF personnel and disaster management personnel of the State government apart from transporting medicines, ration, pipes, tarpaulin and other relief materials to the affected areas. It has also been lifting ration from Mangan to the affected areas.
It is informed that the Pawan Hans helicopter on 23 September flew 8 sorties and transported 29 people and air-lifted 254 kilos of relief materials. On 24 September, it flew 8 sorties of rescue operations again and transported 33 people, and reached 386 kgs of relief materials. Its busiest day was 25 September, when a total of 16 sorties were clocked, 59 people transported and 736 kgs of relief materials shipped.
Meanwhile, given the devastation suffered by the North Sikkim Highway, STDC has also announced subsidized flights from Gangtok to Chungthang, Lachung and Lachen from Thursday onwards for the convenience of the people in these cut off areas of North Sikkim.