USFC and Sikkim Express reach earthquake relief to Dzongu

MANGAN, 11 Dec: United Sikkim Football Club (USFC) and local English daily, Sikkim Express, in a joint-effort towards earthquake relief, distributed 300 Raymond blankets to earthquake affected people of Dzongu in a programme held at the Passingdang BAC on 08 December.

The programme started with a welcome address by, HA, BAC Passingdang, SW Bhutia which was followed by an address by former Judge of the High Court of Sikkim, Justice AP Subba, who informed that footballer Bhaichung Bhutia [the co-owner of USFC] was scheduled to be present personally among the earthquake- affected today, but could not make it due to urgent meetings related to the exhibition football match for earthquake relief to be held in Kolkata
This is the first phase of relief distribution and Bhaichung will personally visit the area soon, it was informed.
Editor, Sikkim Express, Amit Patro, in turn said that this relief and support was not the end, but the beginning of an effort and that this visit was to ascertain and understand the main problems and requirements of rehabilitation to bring back normalcy in the area.
500 more blankets will be sent to the BDO office for those who had been left out and financial support will also be provided for resettlement and rehabilitation, he added.
Chairman, North District Milk Union, Choden Lepcha said that more than 15 families of Bey have been rendered homeless and urged that they should be resettled as soon as possible. She also thanked the Department of Tourism on behalf of the North District for constructing a helipad at Mangan which was a big help for rescue and air drop operations after the earthquake.
The SDM Mangan, PW Lepcha informed that, the district administration had provided all necessary help to the earthquake victims and regarding resettlement of the affected people of Bey he said that they have demanded an area at Chandey below Mangan and official procedure for the same is in progress .
Panchayat president, Lum Gor-Santok, Tshering Lepcha, thanked the team on behalf of Dzongu for taking a positive initiative for affected people of Dzongu and expressed hope that Mr. Bhaichung would take more initiative to rebuild Sikkim. The programme concluded with the distribution of blankets to the people.