Sikkim: Land Revenue and Disaster Management department constitutes team to oversee rescue and relief operations

Digital Desk: A team has been constituted by Sikkim's Land Revenue and Disaster Management department to oversee rescue and relief efforts in the Mangan district, with special attention to Dzongu and other afflicted districts.

With one platoon of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) attached to the team, the team consisting of Secretary RDD, Tsewanag Gyatso (IAS); Additional Chief Engineer, Culture, Rimp Dorjee Lepcha; Divisional Engineer, Culture, Rapden P Kazi; and Joint Director, Science & Technology Department, Sonam Rinchen Lepcha will be in charge of the rescue and relief operations.

The team was established with the Chief Secretary-Chairman, State Executive Committee (SEC), and Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority's approval to monitor the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts amid the flash flood mayhem that has left the Himalayan state with widespread devastation.

However, after an extensive visit to Rangpo, Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang focused on Singtam town, one of the areas that had been most seriously impacted by the recent natural disaster. His visit was intended to evaluate the damage, supervise the relief and repair efforts, and offer solace to the distressed.

The Chief Minister made an ex gratia payment of Rs. 4 lakhs to the families of deceased Indian citizens whose remains have been found and recognized during his visit to the relief camp.

 

He also announced emergency aid of Rs. 2000 per person for everyone staying in the relief camps, underlining that the assistance is only temporary until continuous damage assessments are carried out.