Chungthang remembers 2011 earthquake victims

CHUNGTHANG, 19 Sept: The public of Chungthang paid homage to lives lost in last year’s earthquake in a programme held at the Gurudwara complex on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the 18 September earthquake which had claimed 17 lives in Chungthang and a total of 69 lives in North Sikkim. Chungthang was the worst hit of all Sikkim towns by the earthquake last year.
The programme, organised by the SDM Office, was attended by Joint Secretary, SREDA, Tashi Chopel as the chief guest [he was the Chungthang SDM when the earthquake struck last year], SDM Chungthang, RK Yadav, Panchayat president Lendup Lepcha, Army officers, ITBP and Sikkim Police officers, Guru Nanak Lama Sahib committee members from Delhi, Punjab, Siliguri and Chungthang, representatives from state and national level NGOs and different departmental officials.
The programme started with prayers by Mani Aamas followed by presentation of certificates of appreciation to all the helping hands and rescue teams for their support in the aftermath of the earthquake last year.
After that, the ITBP jawans gave a demonstration on disaster risk reduction at Tasa Tengay Sec. School complex.
The chief guest in his address, thanked all the organizations for their help and coordination during the hour of crisis last year. The programme concluded with a candle light rally and two minutes silence for all those who lost their lives in the earthquake and also for Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche who passed away at Delhi on Tuesday morning.