Over 5,500 Armymen in rescue and relief job in quake-hit Sikkim

The Army has deployed nearly 5,500 personnel drawn from all across Sikkim and adjoining regions under the Eastern Command in the rescue and relief work in the Himalayan state.

GoC-in-C Eastern Command Lt Gen Bikram Singh visited several quake-hit areas in North Sikkim, including Chatten, Mangan, Tung, Chungthang and Gangtok, to survey the damage, besides taking stock of the Army's rescue and relief operations since Sunday night.

An official release said the GoC-in-C has assured of deploying more personnel, if necessary.

He said that early restoration of damaged roads and communications lines would be accorded top priority.

Lt Gen Singh was briefed by various formation commanders in the forward areas of rescue efforts.

The GoC-in-C called on Governor BP Singh and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and assured Army's wholehearted support to overcome the crisis.

He later visited the Army hospital in Bengt, near Silage, where 26 patients, including 10 civilian casualties, were currently recuperating after their evacuation by army aviation helicopters.