India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Sikkim on Sept 27

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit earthquake hit Sikkim on September 27. Sikkim’s information and public relations secretary Karma Tobgay said that Singh would be visiting the state on September 27 to take stock of the situation.

The state had been hit by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 18 causing extensive damage especially in North Sikkim. “The government of Sikkim will be handing him a detailed report on the damages caused by the killer quake” said Tobgay.

As rescue and relief operations continued in the incessant rain the official death toll hit the 77 mark. The injured are being treated in various government facilities and also referred to hospitals outside the state.

“There are 102 relief camps operational in the quake affected areas of the state. The Sikkim government employees have decided to contribute a day’s salary for relief. The state government has already handed over a sum of Rs 12 crore, 51 lakhs and 50 thousand to various departments for immediate relief and reconstruction” added the IPR secretary.

Heavy rains since Friday night have triggered anxiety of further damage. On Friday night a five-storied building collapsed in the Baluakhani area of Gangtok after a six storied building had tilted on it. Eight persons were injured in the incident.