CM directs school repairs to be completed by 09 Oct

HIGH-LEVEL MEETING TAKES STOCK AND ISSUES FRESH DIRECTIONS ON RELIEF AND REHABILITATION EFFORTS
ALTERNATE ACCOMMODATION TO BE ARRANGED FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE COLLAPSED

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling convened a high-level meeting with Minister, MLAs, MPs, Advisors, Chief Secretary and Heads of Departments yesterday to take stock of the relief and rehabilitations efforts, issue fresh directives and reiterate that all policy decision taken to help the State and its people overcome the devastation caused by the 18 September earthquake were implemented in the right earnest.

Health workers tour affected areas, reach counsel and medicines

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: The Health Department today released details of the tasks undertaken since the 18 Sept earthquake.
According to a press release forwarded by the IRP Department, NDMRF, New Delhi, visited the relief camp at Merung where 16 households were taking shelter. 26 patients were examined and 1 injury case was treated at STNM Hospital while other systematic diseases were reported with no cases of diarrhea. “IEC was given and 4000 halogen tablets distributed”.

Gangtok Muslims pray for Sikkim, contribute relief funds and materials

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: The Muslim community here came together today to offer special prayers for victims of the 18 September Earthquake. This prayer was offered after the Juma Namaaz [Friday Prayers] at the Gangtok Masjid this afternoon.

Choppers keep busy, evacuate 156 people

GENERATOR AIRLIFTED TO LACHEN
GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Pawan Hans helicopters flew 36 sorties from Mangan on Friday, flying to Chungthang, Lachen and Lachung, reaching and evacuating people and personnel. The two helicopters evacuated 101 people from different locations today.
Similarly, Army spokespersons, Col Ravi Patil informed that army helicopters evacuated 25 people, mostly NDRF personnel, from Chungthang to Gangtok. Among those evacuated from Chungthang were 19 NDRF personnel and one pregnant lady.

Children make art for relief

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Contributions are coming in from across the State to aid affected people and areas overcome the earthquake devastation and rebuild lives. Each gesture is important and significant and goes a long way towards reinforcing the Sikkimese society. On such heartwarming gesture was displayed by students of the Shrishti Art Class at Tadong.

Ladakhi family contributes Rs. 5 lakh towards CM’s Relief Fund

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: The Ladakhi Family here has contributed Rs. 5 lakh towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
“In this hour of disaster and devastation, the Ladakhi family will be making a humble contribution to the noble effort of rebuilding and rehabilitation of affected people through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund,” confirmed Guru Ladakhi today.
“We urge fellow citizens of Sikkim and India to open their hearts and contribute generously,” the family has further urged.
He adds that the staff of the Ladakhi Group has also taken the onus to raise funds and materials for the most affected people on their own.

Aidmatric and NDMA teams reach Shipgyer, assess damage

MANGAN, 30 Sept: A relief and survey team comprising of representatives from AidMatrix and National Disaster Management Authority of India, Programme Coordinator Sandeep Kashyap, in coordination with Singtam-based NGO, Spark, accompanied by media-persons toured earthquake affected areas of Dzongu up to Shipgyer an Toong yesterday.
At Toong, 11 kutcha houses at the labour colony were damaged in the earthquake, with even the Police check post there having developed cracks.

Bar Assc coordinates relief, reaches assistance to affected areas

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: The Bar Association of Sikkim (BAS) formed “The 18th September 2011 Earthquake Victims Relief Fund” in order to reach out to all the people willing to aid the victims and generate both monetary as well as material support after obtaining necessary permission from the District Collector, Gangtok, informs a press release issued by General Secretary, BAS.

Paramedics contribute Rs. 10,000 towards CM’s Relief Fund

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Sikkim Government Medical Male and Female Ward Attendants Association has contributed Rs. 10,000 towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help rehabilitate the victims of the earthquake and support them in their efforts of restoration, informs a press release issued jointly by the president and general secretary, Thunkit Lepcha and Norbu Bhutia.

NO TIME FOR PETTY POLITICS

Letter:
In context of a recent coloumn in which certain person from Kabi tried to ridicule the effort of Tseten Lepcha of Chungthang in helping the affected people of the area, among which he himself is one, was in bad taste. The comment, “Is it Tseten speaking or Congress” was poor in taste.
Some people have all the time on this earth to play such petty games, instead of being there lending a helping hand. The effort that is being made by Tseten in the ground zero should be appreciated and not ridiculed. This is no time for petty politics.
Gyurme Bhutia, Mangan, North Sikkim

SDM inspects affected houses not covered in earlier inspections

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: In order to address the problems of the affected people of Gangtok overlooked in earlier inspections, the Sub Divisional Magistrate [East], Dr. AB Karki took a tour of 6th Mile, 5th Mile, Tadong, Swastik and Nam Nang, today.
Of the buildings he visited in these areas, two buildings in Swastik and one at Nam Nang had suffered major damages and the report of this will be submitted to the District Collector [East], he informed.

Yuldri-Sum team returns from North assessment tour

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: A team of four members of Yuldri Sum Association, led by Thukchuk Lachungpa, visited Lachung, Lachen and Chungthang on 27 September to check on the ground reality of the area devastated by the 18 September earthquake. They also took a 14 kilometer walk of Lachung and are planning to visit Dzongu in their next trip.

VHAS and SU undertake joint study and relief tour of affected areas

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim in collaboration with Sikkim University undertook the immediate relief activities to the earthquake victims in various places of Sikkim, informs a press release issued by the Executive Director, VHAS, BB Rai. 
The team, till 25 Sept, was engaged in reaching relief in the East District at Nandok, Kamarey and Raley villages. In spite of the inclement weather, the relief team met with the villagers of Kamarey and Raley on 23 Sept and distributed tents to 5 families at Kamarey and 15 families at Raley as an immediate option for shelter.

Red Cross-Sikkim reaches relief and assistance to affected areas

WATER PURIFYING UNIT ISTALLED AT CHUNGTHANG
GANGTOK, 30 Sept: The Indian Red Cross Society [IRCS], Sikkim Branch, has been assisting the state authorities in the earthquake-hit areas by contributing relief materials in North, East and South districts despite the unfavorable weather, a press release informs.
The IRCS state branch general secretary, BK Roka, informs that on the 25 September, two teams visited Linzya, Bey and Mangan in North Sikkim and delivered relief items and on the 26 September, relief items reached Namthang and Borong in South Sikkim.

RTI Forum suggests means to make relief transparent

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: In an open letter to the Chief Minister, the Sikkim RTI Forum has offered suggestions regarding the monitoring of relief funds and effective mechanism for its disbursement.
For every fund related matter, there should be an effective mechanism and 100% transparency to channelize it to the right person, the letter suggests.

Lions pledge Rs. 8 lakh towards relief

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) has announced a contribution of approximately Rs. 8 lakhs in aid of the earthquake victims of Sikkim.
Yesterday, a team of Lions Club International 322 F District visited the earthquake affected areas of the East district and collected details of North district from the concerned authorities.

EPCS pray for earthquake affected, contributes Rs. 1 lakh towards relief fund

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Sikkim, [EPCS] members assembled in the church hall from 6-8 a.m. on 26 Sept to pray for the earthquake victims and bereaved families. The EPCS Council has also handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, informs a press release. “It is a humble gesture to show our concern towards our people who are suffering”, the release adds.

Deorali Samaj contributes Rs. 23,000 towards CM’s Relief Fund

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Deorali Samaj Kalyan Sangh and residents of Deorali pooled resources and contributed Rs. 23,000 towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. They have also donated essential items like gumboots, clothes, blankets and food items for the relief operations. 
The Sangh also convened a meeting on 28 Sept to mourn the earthquake casualties and pray for the bereaved families, informs a press release. The Sangh has also been arranging drinking water supply for people here in light of the reduced water supply.

Animal Husbandry’s East district staff pools one day’s salary for relief

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: Officers and staffs of the Animal Husbandry Department, East District, have pooled a day’s salary and contributed it towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Their contribution totals Rs. 75,210 and has been deposited into the CM’s Relief Fund, informs a press release issued by the Deputy Director Dr. Sanga Dorjee.

PM urges Chamling to lead restoration that makes Sikkim a Model State in Earthquake Mitigation

SIKKIM NOT ALONE IN THIS HOUR OF CRISIS, PM REASSURES, ANNOUNCES RS. 1,000 CRORE INTERIM RELIEF FUND
GANGTOK, 29 Sept: Assuring Sikkim that it was not alone in this hour of crisis, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who made a quick tour of the earthquake affected areas today, announced an interim relief fund of Rs. 1,000 crore for immediate restoration of infrastructure and relief works. The fund, it is informed is exclusively for repairs and restoration of infrastructure and not for ex-gratia distribution.

Army choppers fly more than 10,000 kgs in supplies to North Sikkim

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: Indian Army’s fleet of seven helicopters dedicated to relief operations in Sikkim airlifted more than 10,000 kgs of essential commodities and other supplies to North district today. These helicopters are flying sorties out of Gangtok and Mangan and air-lifting supplies being dispatched by the Food & Civil Supplies Department and relief packets put together by NGOs and aid agencies.

Power Deptt suffers Rs. 261 crore loss to earthquake

SUPPLY RESUMED FOR SHIPGYER, 5 KVA GENERATORS BEING ACQUIRED FOR LACHEN AND LACHUNG
REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS UNDERWAY FULL SWING, SECY ASSURES
GANGTOK, 29 Sept: Power projects in the State have suffered a massive setback and monetary loss in the hands of the hands 18 September Earthquake. With the epicenter of the 6.9 tremor reported to be in north Sikkim, it is projects in this region which have suffered extensive damage. The Power Department has estimated damage to state-owned power projects to the tune of Rs. 261 crore, out of which, the State’s power projects in North Sikkim alone have suffered damages estimated at Rs. 100 crore.

Road cleared upto Shipgyer, opening option to drive in hydel tunnel to Chungthang

MANGAN, 29 Sept: The Mangan-Shipgyer road was opened for light vehicles today. The restoration work, undertaken by the 20 Mountain Division’s 52nd Engineer Regiment along with State PWD Department, required 12 [major to minor] landslides cleared from Toong to Shipgyer.

Animal Husbandry team surveys earthquake damage to infrastructure in Chungthang

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: A team of Animal Husbandry Department officers led by Secretary DP Sharma, and including Joint Directors Dr. RK Tamang, Dr. PK Pradhan and Dr. HN Sharma visited and inspected the extent of damage caused by the 18 Sept Earthquake to the Chungthang Sub-Division Veterinary Hospital Complex, officers quarters, staff quarters, Bull Shed and other related structures, informs a press release.

Editorial

rePrint
Today, we reproduce an editorial of the year 2004 vintage and re-present queries that had been triggered by a weak earthquake which had coursed through Sikkim at 9 p.m. on 12 October. This is shared here afresh because seven years down the line, several of the questions unfortunately still continue to confound and the general aimlessness of disaster preparedness and planning continue to bewilder...

Shipgyer Monastery sustains major damage, villagers begin protective works

MANGAN, 29 SEPT:  The Ship Kunzang Choling Monastery at Shipgyer-Ramom GPU has suffered major damage due to the 18 September earthquake. Readers would recall that a Shipgyer resident who walked to Mangan and reached Gangtok recently, had brought horror stories of the Sunday night destruction at the village, the road to which was cleared for light vehicles [with four-wheel drive power] only today.

Lachen not satisfied with scale of relief works: Cho Rapjor

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: “We are not satisfied with the scale of relief works being carried out by the State government with regard to Lachen and its surrounding areas,” conveyed Cho Rapjor Lachenpa, ex-pipon of the Lachen Dzumsa, insisting that he spoke for the present Pipon Champa Kalden and the entire community. Pipon Kalden was scheduled to meet the press, but had to leave early in the morning when he received word that his mother had passed away in Lachen.

“Poverty will make recovery difficult for affected people”

FIRST HAND ACCOUNT: SIKKIM UNIVERSITY TEAM TOURS EARTHQUAKE AFFECTED PARTS OF WEST SIKKIM
A team of faculty members and students of Sikkim University along with some members of Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim (VHAS) toured different village of three Gram Panchayats in Sombarey area under Soreng sub-division of West Sikkim in connection with relief work and assessment study related to the 18 September Earthquake. The team was in West Sikkim on 27 and 28 September.
Due to weak geological structure, the western part of Sikkim in general is prone to landslides, but the tremor, combined with heavy rainfall which followed in subsequent days, triggered landslides which have created havoc in some of the villages in the Sombarey administrative block.

SPCC delegations meets PM

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: A seven-member delegation of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee headed by its president Nar Bahadur Bhandari met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at Libing Helipad today, informs an SPCC release.
While presenting a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Mr Bhandari apprised the PM that the SPCC functionaries were collecting data on the damage caused by the earthquake in Sikkim and that the same would be submitted as soon as it was ready, the release informs.
The Prime Minister enquired about Mr Bhandari’s health and advised him proper treatment.
The release further mentions that the SPCC has received news of appointment of its vice-president Kunga Nima Lepcha as the general secretary of North East Congress Committee.

People’s Forum on Earthquake formed

GROUP DEMANDS INSTITUTION OF HIGH-POWERED COMMITTEE TO STUDY 18 SEPT EARTHQUAKE, WANTS ALL HYDEL PROJECTS SUSPENDED IN THE INTERIM
GANGTOK, 29 Sept: To introspect on what went wrong in the 18 September earthquake, Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) convened a meeting of concerned citizens and members of civil society at Gangtok today, informs a SIBLAC release.
The meeting was attended by High Court lawyer Hemlal Bhandari, SAFE president Bharat Basnet, ASESE&UA president Naveen Kiran, Nagarik Suraksha Sangathan president Prem Goyal, Human Rights lawyer Dr. Doma T Bhutia, retired civil servant SP Subba, Supreme Court advocate Jangpo Sherpa, ACT general secretary Dawa Lepcha, journalist Pabitra Bhandari, NASSS coordinator Sonam Bhutia, Rongong Youth Club advisor Gayching Bhutia, writer Kamal Chamling “Kamrange’, advocate Jigme W Bhutia, journalist Punya Prasad Koirala and others, the release details.

SGC raises Rs. 1.59 lakh for relief and rehabilitation

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: The teaching and non-teaching staff of Sikkim Government College, Tadong, in an effort to contribute towards the relief and rehabilitation efforts, have raised Rs. 1.59 lakh. Of this amount, the staff has contributed Rs. One lakh towards the CM’s Relief Fund and has set aside Rs. 59,000 to aid affected students of the college, informs a press release issued by the Principal, MK Pradhan.

SSACS contributes to CM’s Relief Fund

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: Employees of the Sikkim State AIDS Control Society have contributed one day’s salary towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as an expression of solidarity with victims of the 18 September earthquake, informs a press communiqué issued by the SSACS Project Director. The Project Director and staff of SSACS are greatly shocked and saddened by the loss of lives and property caused by the earthquake, the release adds.

Tadong Yargay Assc commits Rs. 20,000 towards relief measures

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: The Tadong Yargay Association, in its meeting convened on 26 Sept, resolved to contribute Rs. 20,000 as a monetary help towards relief efforts for the earthquake affected.
The meeting also expressed solidarity with and extended condolences to victims of the earthquake, informs a press release issued by the TYA general secretary, Phuchungla Bhutia.

NO MITHAI, LITERALLY...

Empty shelves of a mithai dokan in Gangtok, the entire kitchen staff having fled town in the wake of the 18 September Earthquake. It’s not just hydel projects which have seen their workers quit and flee. In many cases, shop-owners have followed their workers, not in flight, but in the hope that they can convince them to return in time to cater to the demand for sweets which spikes in the approaching season of festivals.

SLYA resolves to coordinate relief and rehabilitation efforts

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: A meeting of the Central Executive Body of the Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Ong Shejum [Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association] was convened on Wednesday at its headquarters under the chairmanship of SLYA president, Ongden Tshering Lepcha, a press release informs.
The meeting expressed deep sorrow on the damage caused by the 18 September earthquake and extended its condolences to the affected people, informs the release issued by SLYA general secretary, Nim Tshering Lepcha.