Amitava Banerjee, Hindustan Times Darjeeling, September 19, 2011
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday arrived at Kurseong in the Darjeeling Hills on a hurricane visit and her counterpart in Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling, toured Gangtok to take stock of the situation.
Both Sikkim and West Bengal have been badly affected by
Sunday's 6.8 magnitude quake.
Banerjee accompanied by Trinamool MP Mukul Roy arrived at Kurseong and held a brief meeting with administrative top brass and Hill MLAs.
She announced that she would be visiting Gangtok on Tuesday.
A relief team consisting of doctors along with relief material including food packets and essential medicines will be sent to Sikkim.
"We will help in evacuation of the tourists stranded in Sikkim. Bengal will also help in clearing landslides so that the National Highway 31A to Sikkim becomes operational," Banerjee said.
Banerjee announced Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the victims and to those who have been hit by landslides triggered by the earthquake. She also assured that damaged houses would be rebuilt.
Banerjee called up PHE minister Subrata Mukerjee and directed him to ensure repair repair works on a war footing after main water supply line was damaged in Kalimpong.
Banerjee has asked for a report from the district administration regarding the damages caused by the earthquake and landslides.
"Based on this detailed report we will decide on the fund to be allotted for relief and restoration," she said.
After the meeting Banerjee visited the quake affected houses at Giddeypahar before leaving for Siliguri where she will halt for the night.
Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling accompanied by cabinet ministers, government, army and administrative officials made a round of Gangtok, accessing damages and handing out relief.
Following this he held a meeting with police headquarters directing the concerned authorities to ensure the clearing of debris from the roads, the restoration of electricity and communications.
Chamling has asked the army for help in clearing the landslides, restore communication and help the injured.
A state control room has been set up at Gangtok Bazar in front of the Tourism Department office.
Sikkim governor Balmiki Prasad Singh, who was in Delhi, rushed back to Gangtok on Monday.
Chamling briefed him on the state of affairs.
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mamata-Chamling-take-stock-of-quake-hit-regions/Article1-747720.aspx
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday arrived at Kurseong in the Darjeeling Hills on a hurricane visit and her counterpart in Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling, toured Gangtok to take stock of the situation.
Both Sikkim and West Bengal have been badly affected by
Sunday's 6.8 magnitude quake.
Banerjee accompanied by Trinamool MP Mukul Roy arrived at Kurseong and held a brief meeting with administrative top brass and Hill MLAs.
She announced that she would be visiting Gangtok on Tuesday.
A relief team consisting of doctors along with relief material including food packets and essential medicines will be sent to Sikkim.
"We will help in evacuation of the tourists stranded in Sikkim. Bengal will also help in clearing landslides so that the National Highway 31A to Sikkim becomes operational," Banerjee said.
Banerjee announced Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the victims and to those who have been hit by landslides triggered by the earthquake. She also assured that damaged houses would be rebuilt.
Banerjee called up PHE minister Subrata Mukerjee and directed him to ensure repair repair works on a war footing after main water supply line was damaged in Kalimpong.
Banerjee has asked for a report from the district administration regarding the damages caused by the earthquake and landslides.
"Based on this detailed report we will decide on the fund to be allotted for relief and restoration," she said.
After the meeting Banerjee visited the quake affected houses at Giddeypahar before leaving for Siliguri where she will halt for the night.
Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling accompanied by cabinet ministers, government, army and administrative officials made a round of Gangtok, accessing damages and handing out relief.
Following this he held a meeting with police headquarters directing the concerned authorities to ensure the clearing of debris from the roads, the restoration of electricity and communications.
Chamling has asked the army for help in clearing the landslides, restore communication and help the injured.
A state control room has been set up at Gangtok Bazar in front of the Tourism Department office.
Sikkim governor Balmiki Prasad Singh, who was in Delhi, rushed back to Gangtok on Monday.
Chamling briefed him on the state of affairs.
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mamata-Chamling-take-stock-of-quake-hit-regions/Article1-747720.aspx