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Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is standing in solidarity with the people of Sikkim and leaving no stone unturned to restore normalcy in the State, a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Saturday.
The statement informed that Home Minister Amit Shah deputed Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra to visit the state a day after flash floods triggered by cloudbursts wreaked havoc in the state. MoS Mishra reached Gangtok on Friday night. On Saturday morning, he chaired a meeting with the Chief Secretary and concerned head of departments of the State Government, and senior officers of the Army, ITBP, BRO, NHIDCL and NHPC at Gangtok. Addressing the meeting, MoS Mishra said that the Government of India is closely monitoring the situation in Sikkim and all the necessary support and assistance for the State is underway. He said that PM Modi and Amit Shah are in constant touch with the State Chief Minister with regard to the extent of damages and rescue and relief work. He further informed that the Centre has constituted an Inter-ministerial Central team comprising senior officers of five Ministries of the Centre, namely Agriculture, Road Transport and Highways, Jal Shakti, Energy and Finance. "The team will visit the State from Sunday, October 8 to take stock of the ground situation, assess the damages and provide assistance wherever necessary," the release said adding that the Central Government has granted an advance sanction of the allocated SDRF for 2023-24 to enable the State to carry out immediate rescue, relief and restoration. In his address, he asserted that the Modi government urged the State Government officials to prepare a short-term and long-term plan to effectively accomplish the task of rebuilding the damaged/lost infrastructure in the shortest possible time. Earlier, Chief Secretary, Sikkim briefed the Union Minister of State about the sequence of events since the early hours of October 4 that led to the disaster, and the extent of damages. "He apprised the Union MoS about the extensive damages to roads and other vital infrastructures like telecommunication, water and electricity. He informed about the casualties and the status of the relief camps. Further, he delivered a comprehensive summary of the steps being taken by the State Government in active coordination with the army, NDRF, BRO, ITBP and all other agencies," as per the statement. Earlier today, Mishra called on the Governor of Sikkim, Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Raj Bhavan and assured of all possible support to the State from the Central Government to overcome the crisis. Later in the day, he visited the Army camp at Burdong where maximum casualties have happened and is slated to meet the Chief Minister of Sikkim on October 8 and will visit affected areas and relief camps, it added. The MHA statement informed that ITBP has evacuated more than 175 persons in rescue operations from October 3 late at night, and are running relief centres within their different camps, it said. "40 persons were stranded in a totally cut-off area, they were rescued through highly dangerous terrain, and evacuated through rough rivers through cables and ropes. Further 6 persons were rescued, who were trapped on the other side of the dam tunnel. 68 persons were stranded at Zanak, which is 16,000 feet height, and everyone was rescued safely and brought to ITBP camp at Goma. Four stranded families were brought to Lachung BOP of ITBP and they are camping there," the MHA statement informed. It added that four teams of NDRF are deployed and they have also rescued 178 persons. The MHA statement said that tourists are facilitated to contact their relatives over satellite phones from Lachung and 2 different locations of ITBP and the Indian Army. "Indian Air Force helicopters are on standby to launch air rescue, subject to weather conditions. Army personnel along with necessary search and rescue equipment are assisting state administration in restoration work,". (ANI)
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