Two days after the devastating earthquake struck Sikkim, the road connecting worst-affected Mangan has been reopened and the death toll is likely to climb as rescue and relief teams reach the interiors of the Himalayan state.
Union Home Secretary RK Singh, however, said the road from Mangan to Chungthan was still closed as it has suffered heavy damage.
"The road from Gangtok to Mangan is open. The number of deaths as reported by the Sikkim government is 50. This may increase further as rescue and relief teams reach the interiors," he told reporters here.
Two rescue teams of 30 personnel each from Jat Regiment were airlifted to Mangan and Chungthan yesterday for search and rescue and they has started their work.
"A team of 10 doctors from Delhi has reached Chungthan," he said.
The home secretary said five teams of National Disaster Response Force were placed at Gangtok and one of them has left for Mangan this morning while arrangements are being made to airlift another NDRF team to Chungthan.
Besides, Singh said, two choppers were being pressed into service with the officials of NDRF and the Sikkim government for aerial survey of affected areas to ascertain the damage and casualties.
The Sikkim government has conveyed that they have opened relief camps in each district and senior secretaries of the state government have been deputed in each district.
The home ministry too has deputed a Joint Secretary to Sikkim to coordinate the relief operations.
"Food packets have been airdropped in the northern areas of north district this morning," Singh said.
