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Thursday, August 11, 2011

DC directs work to be stopped at Stage VI dam-site after rock fall injures labourers

NAMCHI, 09 Aug: Two labourers employed at LANCO Teesta Hydro Power Project limited at Sirwani near Singtam were injured by falling boulders. The incident took place at around 9 a.m. on 07 August when a huge boulder fell at the dam site where they were working.
Of the two laborers, Ajit Kumar suffered minor injuries while Pradeep Menji suffered serious head injuries and was immediately taken to Singtam hospital and has now been taken to Siliguri for treatment.

Since the incident, boulders have been falling continuously on the work site posing a serious threat to the workers, damaging signboards and some have fallen on and around the Sirwani bridge as well. The South District Administration has issued an order under 144 CrPc to stop work immediately at the site.
The District Collector South, AK Singh passed the order immediately, keeping in mind the condition at the site, and work has been stopped completely till further notice.
SDM Namchi, Annapurna Alley along with DPO Disaster Management, Pempa Sherpa and TO, Abishek Kharel reached the spot the next day and inspected the situation.
The order issued by the DC South was served to the company and construction work was stopped. To alert people and vehicles passing by, search lights were installed by the company. To monitor the rescue and rehabilitation process DPO, Mr. Sherpa was asked to stay near the incident site.
Following the incident and the threat posed by the continuously falling boulders, traffic was also stopped for some time, while a team from LANCO managed the traffic that night. According to the study conducted by the Department of Mines and Geology, the area falls under zone I, and due to the construction activities by LANCO at the base of the hill, the area is becoming highly vulnerable thus leading to such frequent slips and sinking of land. The condition at LANCO Teesta Hydro Power Project site was the same yesterday and traffic movement is being regulated depending upon the condition of the area.
The District Administration issued an advisory to all concerned to divert the traffic and DPO Namchi who was at the site to keep an eye on the condition gave verbal instructions yesterday. It is informed that boulders are still falling and the DPO has instructed the AGM there to put caution boards and keep people alert.
One house located above the site was evacuated yesterday. At present, work at LANCO Teesta Hydro Power at Sirwani has been completely stopped.


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