The Centre has announced Rs 50-crore relief package for Sikkim, where, with the recovery of four more bodies on Thursday, the official toll of the Sunday's earthquake reached 75.
Meanwhile, the state experienced mild tremors around 10.15pm. East Sikkim district collector D Anandan said, "People came out on the roads and were afraid to go back inside their homes."
Union home minister P Chidambaram, who visited the state on Thursday, assured the state of all help and announced the package. He met chief minister Pawan Chamling, governor Balmiki Prasad Singh and visited the STNM hospital, where the injured are admitted. "The immediate priority is the restoration of road connectivity, drinking water supply and relief operation," he said.
The army has airlifted another 161 people, including 21 tourists and 10 South African engineers working at Teesta Urja hydel power project at Ramom in north Sikkim. Many workers of Teesta Urja are still feared trapped and sources said 17 of them are dead. Officials are yet to confirm the reports.
Nine villages in North Sikkim are still cut off. The roads between Toong and Chungthang and Chungthang and Lachen are still inaccessible.
Nawraj Gurung, state co-coordinator of Bhavishya Bharat Foundation, an NGO located at Singhik, said Safu, Salim-Pakayal, Theng and Pegong, which are amongst the worst hit, are still isolated. "Villages like Dhey on the other side of Dzongo mountain are in complete isolation. Nothing is known about the people at Dhey," Gurung said. "There is not a single house in entire Sikkim that has not suffered damage," said PD Rai, 57, Sikkim's lone representative in the Lok Sabha.
{{/usCountry}}Nawraj Gurung, state co-coordinator of Bhavishya Bharat Foundation, an NGO located at Singhik, said Safu, Salim-Pakayal, Theng and Pegong, which are amongst the worst hit, are still isolated. "Villages like Dhey on the other side of Dzongo mountain are in complete isolation. Nothing is known about the people at Dhey," Gurung said. "There is not a single house in entire Sikkim that has not suffered damage," said PD Rai, 57, Sikkim's lone representative in the Lok Sabha.
{{/usCountry}}