Gangtok:
Home Minister P Chidambaram is visiting quake-hit Sikkim today. The minister will review relief and rescue work being carried out by state administration, police and central forces and also meet injured people in hospital.
A devastating earthquake measuring a forceful 6.8 on the Richter scale struck large parts of Sikkim on Sunday. A total of 700 houses have reportedly collapsed across the state; 500 of them have suffered substantial damage. Rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy rain and mudslides that blocked the roads leading to villages in the remote, mountainous region.
"We are with Sikkim. The Army is doing a great job. I have been assured that we will soon be able to reach thousands of people trapped in remote areas," the minister said.
Addressing a presser, he added that the PM will visit Sikkim after he returns from the US.
Many villages in quake-hit Sikkim are still out of reach and thousands are said to be waiting for help. Rescue operations remain the biggest challenge as rain and landslides are severely hampering the efforts and bad weather is not allowing helicopters to land.
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling on Wednesday visited quake-affected areas including Nanduk - one of the worst-hit villages - which is an hour's drive from the capital Gangtok.
"I think loss and damage will be not less than Rs. one lakh crore. We will assess thoroughly the loss of properties," Mr Chamling said, adding, "We are trying to assess the (exact) loss. We will do it in about 10 days and will submit a report and ask for a special package from the Centre."
The Chief Minister also said that it would take at least a month to build damaged roads again. "Many roads have been affected, and thousands of houses have been destroyed. In north Sikkim, contact has been broken with nine villages. Roads are completely closed," he said.
Mr Chamling announced compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the seriously injured.
The death toll in Sikkim has crossed 78 so far and it is expected to increase further.