Northeast quake toll climbs to 72; landslides, rains hamper rescue work

Battling landslides and torrential rains in quake-hit Sikkim, rescue teams got into full swing today as the death toll in the 6.8 magnitude temblor mounted to 72, including 41 in the Himalayan state.

Last evening's earthquake with its epicentre near the border with Nepal, left a trail of devastation damaging roads, buildings and other structures, uprooting mobile phone towers and snapping communication and power lines.

After shocks made people panic in several areas forcing them to spend the night outdoors.

The death toll may go up. Union Home Secretary RK Singh said nothing can be ruled out as people may still be trapped under the debris of collapsed houses since rescue teams were still trying hard to reach all villages.

Food packets were air dropped in the inaccessible quake-affected areas.

Two medical teams with doctors and paramedics reached worst affected Mangan and Sangthan with the help of helicopters and Border Roads Organisation has been able to reopen the Himalayan state's life line-the National Highway 31-A, Singh said.

West and South districts in Sikkim remained mostly inaccessible to the Army in the earlier part of the day due to landslides and inclement weather and rescuers were facing an uphill task to reach these areas, Major General S L Narasimhan, GOC 17 Mountain Division, said.

Sikkim accounted for 41 deaths alone, with most casualties taking place in the North District and in towns and villages like Rangpo, Dikchu, Singtam and Chungthang located along the course of Teesta river, officials in the district control room said.

The Home Secretary said ten bodies of employees of Teesta Hydro Electric Project were recovered from the debris in Singtam.

The overnight toll climbed to 72 which included nine deaths in West Bengal and eight in Bihar,seven each Nepal and Tibet, official reports said. Over a hundred people have been injured.

22 people travelling in a bus went missing since last evening in north Sikkim. A spokesman of the 17 Mountain Division said the army was still not able to find the missing bus which could be anywhere between a radius of 10 and 15 km along Mangan and Chungthang in north Sikkim.

Rescue workers struggled hard to clear boulders which came tumbling down following the quake, blocking roads.

Panic-stricken residents of the affected areas spent a sleepless night apprehending more tremors braving cold, chilly winds and pouring rain.

An official update in Delhi tonight said NH 55 from Bagdogra to Darjeeling has been restored and the highway from Darjeeling to Nathu La is expected to be cleared by 6 PM tomorrow.

"10 doctors have been airlifted to Chungthang in North Sikkim and medicines are being airlifted to Bagdogra from where they will be sent to Chungthang. 20 Medical detachments have been deployed by army," the official update said.

The optical fiber link to Gangtok which had been disrupted is now restored.

The Army has opened relief camps for 2,000 people and ITBP opened camps for 400 others.

"In the entire operation, 5,500 army personnel were engaged apart from 700 ITBP personnel. The BRO has done commendable job by reopening the highway linking Gangtok with Siliguri this afternoon," the Home Secretary said.

Singh said Sikkim power corporation has been able to restore power connection partially while landline telephone connection with Sikkim is functioning normally.

Nine helicopters were engaged in carrying out rescue and relief operations -- mostly in worst-hit North district --despite poor weather.

Narasimhan said army has launched 'Operation Madad' in Gangtok and other areas."We are also sending teams to Darjeeling and Kalimpong (in West Bengal)," he said.

About 400 people from quake-hit areas in North Sikkim have been rescued and taken to safe locations, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) said.