“Ex gratia payments will not differentiate between locals and non-locals”

CM TOURS EARTHQUAKE AFFECTED AREAS IN SOUTH SIKKIM

PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 24 Sept: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling arrived in South Sikkim today as part of his tour of earthquake-affected areas of the State. The CM, it may be recalled, was in North Sikkim yesterday. At Namchi, he met the victims of the earthquake recuperating at the Namchi District Hospital and handed over cash aid of Rs. 50,000 each to them. The Chief Minister also interacted with the victims, consoling them urging them to find the resolve to build their lives afresh. He also announced today that the ex-gratia payments announced for the earthquake affected will be released equally and without discrimination between locals and non-locals.
He also inspected the hospital premises and called on other patients admitted there, handing over cash assistance to them as well.
Earlier, the CM addressed a gathering at the Indoor Gymnasium Hall and stressed that the State was going through a very difficult phase and needed its people to stand strong and united to ensure that the more affected parts and people recovered from the calamity.

Earthquake death toll holds at 77

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: The death toll to the 18 September earthquake holds at 77 as no reports have come in of new casualties discovered or recovered from any part of the State on Saturday. As per these latest figures, 59 lives have been lost in North Sikkim, 13 in East, South Sikkim-01 and West Sikkim four.
In North Sikkim, Mangan, Lachen and Lachung have recorded 13 casualties, Damang and Lingdong in one each, Saffo in Upper Dzongu - 02, Toong - 04, Sophok [Adit-V] - 08, Chungthang - 12, Salem-Pakyel - 11 and Bey seven.

Tarjum reaches relief to Dzongu

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: A six-member team of Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum [Sikkim Lepcha Association] led by their president, Sonam Dupden Lepcha, visited the earthquake affected areas of North Sikkim on 22 September, informs a press release.
The team interacted with the members of seven households of Bey block in Upper Dzongu at 4th mile Mantan and handed over relief items to them, the release informs.

CLOS blames hydel projects for earthquake devastation

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: Activities like the use of explosives to develop mega power projects in areas like Dzongu, Chungthang and Lachung that weakened the land stability making these areas the worst affected by the recent earthquake, claims a press release issued by Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim [CLOS].
Reiterating their stand against mega power projects in the area, the release ‘entreats’ policymakers to “rethink, reassess and scrap all 14 power projects that are in operation or being proposed in the region, thereby respecting the area as the sacred and protected reserve of the Lepchas”.
CLOS has called upon all Sikkimese to exert pressure on all the concerned authorities to immediately scrap these power projects.

159 year old Ringhem Monastery, Mangan

MANGAN, 24 Sept:  The more than a century and a half year old Ringhem Choling Monastery above Mangan was extensively damaged in the 18 September earthquake with 70% of the structure, including statues inside the monastery, having crumbled away.
Karma Bhutia, president, Ringhem Choling Monastery, while speaking to NOW! informed that the monastery was constructed in 1852 and renovated in the year 1913. The statues and other belongings of the monastery have been taken out and kept in house nearby in the monastery premises, he informed.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, it may be recalled, had visited the monastery yesterday and assured immediate reconstruction and directed the area MLA to begin the process forthwith.

Engineers deputed to inspect structural strength of buildings

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: The State Government today appointed a team of engineers to inspect buildings in Gangtok, Ranipool and Rangpo and advice house-owners on the structural health of their homes and recommend repair, renovation or demolition as the condition might require. This in response to the extensive damage caused to structures by the earthquake of 18 September.
The Office Order issued by the DC, East, today, directs the appointed engineers to submit a detailed report on houses inspected by them and advice given, to the District Control Room at MG Marg by 6 p.m. every day.
While engineers and architects of the UD&HD had begun inspecting buildings in and around Gangtok on 19 September itself, with the latest development, the team has been reinforced with more civil engineers.

BSNL to provide Sat Phones for Lachen and Lachung

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: BSNL has assured to provide two satellite phones to the State Government for use in areas which remain without reliable telecommunication services thus far. These, State Government officials inform, are expected to be handed over on Sundat and delivered immediately to Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim.

Mountaineers despatched to Lachen and Lachung

GANGTOK, 24 Sept [IPR]: The State Government has organized an 18-member team of mountaineers to travel to Lachen and Lachung for relief and rehabilitation measures. They are professionals in mountain travelling and will assist in relief and rehabilitation operations there.

Sikh youth from Siliguri drive in relief materials

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: The Sikh Sangat [youth] of Siliguri, West Bengal, registering soladarity with victims of the 18 September earthquake, today brought in five jeep-loads of relief materials and food items to be sent up to North Sikkim.
“We are here to provide all the help that the State Government requires from us and will be providing further relief and other necessary materials as and when needed”, informed Sarvajit Singh, president, Sikh Youth Forum of Siliguri, while speaking to NOW! at the Libing Helipad here today.

Offices relocated following earthquake damage to Tashiling

GANGTOK, 24 Sept [IPR]: Following the damage suffered by the Tashiling Secretariat due to the 18 Sept earthquake, five departments housed in the complex have been shifted to new locations.
These are:
1. Department of Personnel, which is now housed in the Community Hall, Development Area, Gangtok
2. Home Department to State Guest House, Gangtok
3. Human Resource Development Department to the DIET Building, Gangtok
4. Law Department is now housed in the Palace Guest House, Gangtok
5. Chief Minister’s Office at Samman Bhawan, Gangtok.

UCWSS measures up to assist Sikkim’s recovery

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: The United Christian Welfare Society, Sikkim, [UCWSS] has appealed to church leaders to keep their congregations updated with correct information and maintain calm and perseverance in the face of the devastation caused by the 18 September earthquake in Sikkim. The organization has called on its members to cooperate with the district administration in relief and rehabilitation efforts. On its contributions towards the rebuilding efforts, the organization has resolved to contribute to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and has also submitted details with Blood Bank authorities of UCWSS members ready to donate blood as and when required.

Excessive silt and trash halts power generation at Stage-V

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: The NHPC has has temporarily shut down power generation at Teesta Stage-V power station due to excessive silt and trash in the Teesta. An NHPC press release informs that generation was stopped on 22 September at 7:50 a.m. Stage-V has its dam at Dikchu and power station at Sirwani near Singtam.
The several landslides upstream in North Sikkim have loaded Teesta with excessive silt and debris, convincing NHPC to stall generation “as a preventive measure”.
Excessive silt can damage the underwater components of the turbine and presence of high volumes of trash in the reservoir restricts the flow of water to the machine, the release explains.
D. Chattopadhyay, Chief Engineer in-charge, Teesta-V Power Station, has assured that the power station will resume generation after “getting the silt and trash content in the water within the permissible limit”.

The Strong Shoulders of Lepcha Youth

Youth from Lingzya in Upper Dzongu carry provisions to the village from Mangan. This was on 21 September, Wednesday, the day when the road from Mangan into Dzongu was finally opened some distance into the Lepcha reserve. This photograph was taken in the afternoon. As per the youth, it would only be past nightfall that they reach the village. This hike, from the road-head to their village, taking them over some still active landslides and the still fresh memories of the Sunday evening earthquake….

Sikkim Security Agency deploys trained personnel to assist relief and rescue in North Sikkim

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: Sikkim Security Agency, Assam Lingzey, has deployed its trained security personnel to assist rescue works at Abir Infrastructure (P) Ltd. under Teesta Urja at the Teesta Stage-III hydel project in North Sikkim.
Twelve personnel have been deployed for Adit II at Theng, 6 for Audit II at Saffu, 7 each for Adit IV and Adit V, while 3 security personnel have been deployed at the Chungthang dam site and 12 at Singhik [9th Bend], informs a press release.
All the personnel are extending full assistance towards the rescue works and are all safe, the release adds.

PS Tamang tours North Sikkim

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: A team headed by SDF’s Upper Burtuk MLA, PS Tamang, visited North District yesterday, reaching medical aid and other relief kits to the Mangan bazaar Relief Camp, Mangan Hospital, Naga Toong Relief Camp and Lingza in Dzongu, a press release informs.
The team had to cancel their trip onwards to Chungthang, Lachen and Lachung because the helicopter was not available, informs a press release issued by Mr. Tamang.

Two buildings collapse in Gangtok, trapped inmates rescued

 GANGTOK, 23 Sept: Following the massive earthquake of 18 September which has damaged thousands of buildings statewide, it was only a matter of time before news poured in of collapsing buildings. Late this evening, a five-storied building belonging to the Secretary, Sports & Youth Affairs Department, near the Vajra Cinema hall on the North Sikkim Highway collapsed trapping three people inside. Miraculously, all three survived after rescue personnel comprising of civilians, the army and NDRF pulled them out of the debris in time. Only the top two floors could be seen above the road while the other 3 stories had sunk.

VHAS relief team reaches traumatized Tumin and Bey

The VHAS Relief team carrying relief materials crosses a landslide at Bey Village in Upper Dzongu on 22nd September 2011

Funeral of earthquake victims at Bey where seven people were killed when a landslide pulverised their homes. The funeral was organized by VHAS volunteers. A fresh landslide tore down the slope even as the cremation was underway

The part of Bey village where a landslide washed away
seven people and their homes on Sunday night.

FIRSTHAND REPORTS FROM AFFECTED AREAS
Issued by: Office of the VHAS, Tadong-Gangtok
Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim (VHAS) has been trying to gather information on the disaster and also directly visiting affected areas of different districts for immediate relief work.
VHAS has been coordinating with government agencies such as District Control Room, District Development Officers, Block Development Officer, Rural Development Assistant, Panchayats members and NGOs, informs a press release.
A team of VHAS comprising of Executive Director, Dr BB Rai, Mr Nehru, Mr Ashok, Mr. Ash Bahadur, Mr. Subhankar, Mr. Kamal and Mr. Prem Chettri reached the highly affected villages of Tumin Gram Panchayat Unit of East District on 19 Sept. As access to the villages was totally damaged, the team had to walk through jungles and hills for more than five hours to reach the affected villages.

‘Slides have changed the entire landscape’

Sanja and her husband [below] and the masons [above] they were working with at the Tholung Monastery repairs works and a construction project there.

WORK-GANG OF 10 FLEES THOLUNG, BRINGS HORROR STORIES OF EARTHQUAKE DESTRUCTION DEEPER INSIDE DZONGU

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 22 Sep: “We do not know how to tell you what lies beyond these slides... There are landslides all along the route, most of them still active, and while were high above 12 Mile [near Bey], we even saw some dead bodies caught in the debris below. We had neither the strength, nor the courage to stop and check, we kept walking,” says 29-year-old Sanja Rai who walked for two days along with her husband Rajkumar and eight others to reach Mangan from Tholung deep inside Dzongu on Wednesday afternoon.
The ten of them were employed in the Tholung monastery renovation work and were there when the earthquake struck on Sunday evening. While Sanja and her husband hail from Pentok in Mangan and were employed at the work-site. The remaining eight are masons from Islampur, West Bengal.
NOW! met them near the Lingzya Falls in Dzongu on Wednesday, just as they crossed the landslide at this spot till where the roads have been cleared. They had left Tholung early on Monday morning and had nothing to eat since then. Walking for most part of the day and sleeping in the open at night, their feet were lacerated from walking on stones and their bodies covered with leech bites.

CM visits North Sikkim, hands over ex gratia payments

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 23 Sept:  Chief Minister Pawan Chamling visited the North District HQ, Mangan today, travelling over road via Dikchu, making several stops to talk to groups of earthquake affected people along the way. At the District Hospital here, he handed over Rs. 50,000 each to all injured people admitted there and spent time with them, hearing out their terror and offering words of consolation.
He also visited the Ringhem Monastery above Mangan which has suffered 70% damages.  The Head Lama in-charge, Acharya Aptuk Lepcha, made a fervent plea for repairs and rehabilitation. The CM promised to rebuild the monastery and requested the area MLA to start the process of rebuilding.

Cops appeal people against forwarding SMSes spreading false news

GANGTOK, 23 Sept: The Superintendent of Police [East] Dr. MS Tuli and Officer in-Charge, Sadar Police Station, Tshering Sherpa have appealed to the people of Gangtok not to entertain the false and baseless SMSes being circulated in town regarding the earthquake that struck the State on 18 September.

SDF forms Relief Teams

GANGTOK, 23 Sept: To tackle the challenges posed by the earthquake destruction in Sikkim, the Sikkim Democratic Front has formed a relief team comprising of party vice presidents as was directed by the party president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, a party press release informs.
The Relief Team, comprising of party vice presidents Somnath Poudyal, Satish Chandra Rai, Manita Mangar, secretary, core committee, JM Gurung, Amos R Lepcha, general secretary (East), KK Thatal, Minister, Neeru Sewa visited West Pandem and took account of the earthquake victims and their losses.
The team also directed local party workers and the panchayats to engage in relief works, inspect all the affected areas and prepare a detailed report on it.

Special prayers being offered at monasteries across Sikkim

GANGTOK, 23 Sept [IPR]: In view of the devastating Sunday earthquake, various eminent Rinpoches have advised to perform Barchay Lamsel (clear away obstacles on the path), Dolma (Tara Puja), recitation of the Vajra Guru mantra and offering of Neysol to the guardian deities in different monasteries immediately, informs a press communiqué issued by the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs. Accordingly, the Department has assigned the performance of the above prayers at the prominent monasteries of the state.

NHPC clears Lower Dzongu roads from Phedang to Ringkhola

GANGTOK, 22 Sept: NHPC cleared roads in Lower Dzongu between Phedang to Ringkhola which had been totally cut off due to the Sunday earthquake that ripped through Sikkim on 18 September, informs a press release.
The residents of this area, who have suffered the brunt of this earthquake were stranded in their villages with massive landslides blocking all roads and were not able to commute even to the local market to get their basic commodities, the release states.

Public-private partnership to coordinate relief and rescue

INTER-AGENCY RESPONSE GROUP OF 50 ORGANISATIONS FORMED
ORGANISATION OUTLINES CORE PRINCIPLES, RESTORES COMMUNICATION LINK WITH LACHEN, LACHUNG AND CHUNGTHANG
GANGTOK, 23 Sept: The State police, district administration, STDC and different national and international NGOs have come together to form an umbrella body by the name of “Inter Agency Response Group” [IARG] operating out of the helipad here in the capital.
Coordinator IARG, Vikrant Mahajan of Sphere India, New Delhi, informed today that IARG has a total of 50 organizations out of which 14 are from outside the State and the remaining local.

Govt Drivers appeal for one day’s salary to be contributed to relief fund

GANGTOK, 23 Sept: The executive members of All Sikkim Government Drivers’ Association convened a meeting today at the Tashiling Secretariat with the SNT Drivers and Conductors Association, All Fourth Grade Employees Association, All Sikkim MR/WC Government Employees Association, All Sikkim Forest Guard Association and SNT Mechanical Workers Association. The meeting was presided over by the president, ASDA, Chakra Bhr. Rai, informs a press release issued by the general secretary, ASDA, Karma Tshering

Handling Rumours in Times of Distress

editorial:
Sikkim has always been susceptible to rumours and the increased levels of anxiety in the wake of the Sunday earthquake have weakened it even more to the power of hearsay. Rumours spike during emergencies and there is really no way to stop them. The only way that the damage potential of rumours can be moderated is through immediate and convincing clarifications. There is really no other defence against the machine which churns out rumours which can trigger panic, because in times of crisis like the one gripping Sikkim at present, most of the rumours are not born out of mischief but are creations of misinformed concern.
Admittedly, not all rumours are born with anonymous SMSes and even the media outlets can at time contribute to creating panic with misrepresentation or instinctive sensationalism. Sikkim experienced two such outbursts yesterday and it is time that its agencies started countering rumours with clarifications. It is important to bear in mind that denials alone are not enough. Given the traumatised state of most minds, it is important that rumours are not just dismissed as false, but detailed clarifications and counter-explanations presented.

EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT DESIGN

by SP WANGDI
1. All buildings are basically cantilevers taking off from the ground and are structurally weaker in the lateral direction as compared to the vertical direction. During an Earthquake, the seismic forces are acting on the building in the horizontal direction.
2. Try to avoid irregular shaped buildings in plan like L,C,Y etc without expansion joints. Buildings with this plan configuration in one block are most vulnerable as there is a variation in the lateral stiffness within the building and are most vulnerable to seismic forces. The simple box structure (Machis ko Khol) is best for Earthquake resistant design and half the battle against Earthquakes is already won by following a box configuration.
3. Make your columns as strong as possible within your budget especially the ones from the foundation to the first floor through the ground floor. During an Earthquake the ground floor columns are usually subjected to maximum shear forces and most vulnerable to fail. In case of a failure, the structural repairs of the ground floor columns to the foundation are tedious and expensive whereas the repairs of the columns in the upper storeys are relatively easier.
4. Be careful of “Soft Storeys” in your building. Soft storeys are created when the partition walls are absent to create halls/basement parking and large rooms. In the absence of partition walls which help to resist lateral forces on the building, the columns will be subjected to greater lateral loading and these have to be designed accordingly or braced.

All NHPC structures unaffected by earthquake, organization assures

GANGTOK, 23 Sept: Although the Sunday earthquake has extensively damaged residential private properties of local villages, small towns, adjoining roads and communication system, the major civil structures i.e. Dam and Power House of Teesta-V Power Station and Rangit Power Station in Sikkim, including projects under-construction like Teesta Low Dam Project Stage-III and Teesta Low Dam Project Stage-IV in West Bengal, are completely safe and no damages have been caused, assures an NHPC press release.

CS convenes coordination meet to take stock of post-earthquake situation

GANGTOK, 23 Sept [IPR]: Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso chaired a coordination meeting here at the Chintan Bhawan conference hall today on the earthquake disaster management and the relief operations in progress. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the State Government, armed forces, BRO, SSB, ITBP, National Disaster Rescue Force and other agencies
The meeting started with a two-minute silence observed in the memory of lives lost to the earthquake and the Chief Secretary, in his address, conveyed deep grief and sadness on the casualties suffered by Sikkim.

ASGEA offers guest house to families of earthquake affected patients

GANGTOK, 23 Sept: A meeting of central executive committee of All Sikkim Government Employee Association (C&D Grade) was convened yesterday, informs a press release issued by the general secretary, SEGEA, KC Dahal.
The meeting resolved to offer the Govt. Employees Guest House situated near STNM Hospital free of charge to families of earthquake affected patients undergoing treatment at STNM hospital.
The guest house has 3 furnished rooms with 4 beds each in couple of the rooms and 2 beds in one of the rooms. All the rooms come with attached bathrooms, the release briefs.

Candlelight rally in Gangtok

People from all walks of life took out a candlelight rally on Friday evening in Gangtok to express solidarity for the victims of the earthquake that struck the State on the evening of 18 September. The candlelight rally began from Metro Point, went up to Zero Point and coming down via Tibet Road, ended in front of the Sadar Police Station.

Tokchi Monastery, Tenkilakha

Tokchi Gumpa under Tenkilakha in Samsing Gram Panchayat Unit of Pakyong Sub-Division in East Sikkim. [foto: Uttam Chhetri, Namcheybong]

Centre will be generous in assisting Sikkim get back on its feet: Chidambaram

GANGTOK, 22 Sept: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has assured that Sikkim will not want for funds in its rebuilding exercise. In a statement on his daylong Sikkim-visit today, Mr. Chidambaram, while extending his deep sympathies to the government and the people of Sikkim, highlighted that the earthquake toll is “relatively very high even if the number looks small as a proportion of the population, it’s a high number”. On latest count, 75 lives have been lost to the earthquake and extensive damage suffered by infrastructure and private and public property.
“I wish to begin by conveying my deepest sympathies to the people of Sikkim and to assure them that in this hour of grief, the entire people of India stand with the people of Sikkim,” he said.

Death toll climbs to 57 in North district

MANGAN, 22 Sept: The death toll in Sikkim due to the Sunday earthquake has reached 75 as per the latest update released by the State Government this afternoon. The only new casualties detected have been in North Sikkim where the number has climbed to 57. The figures have not changed from East [13], South-01 and West Sikkim-04.
In the North district, five dead bodies were recovered from Bey-Pentong in Upper Dzongu today. Here, seven people were missing after a landslide triggered by the earthquake swept away four houses. The dead bodies were recovered by a rescue team made up of local youth with the National Disaster Relief Force remaining unable to reach the area. Meanwhile a team led by Forest and police personnel have also left for Bey Pentong.

Adequate funds released to grassroots functionaries to address exigencies: CS

‘RELIEF AND RESCUE MEASURES BEING EFFECTIVELY WELL’
GANGTOK, 22 Sept: Chief Secretary, Karma Gyatso, addressing a media briefing to present the status update on the Earthquake relief measures, informed that the Chief Minister convened a high-level meeting with the Chief Secretary, DGP and officials from all line departments involved in the day-to-day post-Earthquake operation this morning. This meeting, he said, was detailed and specific and took several clear decisions.
The meeting decided to release Rs 5 lakh each to all GPUs, Rs 10 lakh each to the Dzumsas at Lachen and Lachung, Rs 50 lakh to District Collectors, Rs 10 lakh each to the 9 SDMs and Rs 5 lakh each to the 29 BDOs across the State.
He informed that this amount will be over and above other miscellaneous expenses released to the DCs, and added there was provision to release more as and when requested.