ADM TALKS ABOUT TAKING PRECAUTIONS TO CURB CAUSALITIES IN FUTURE

By Nisha Chettri (TNI Kalimpong) ~ Edited By Pradiptamay Saha (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Kalimpong, 6th July, 2015: The official death toll of the three hill subdivision is 30, where 10 are still missing and 16 are seriously injured says Rachana Bhagat, the Additional District Magistrate who had come here to attend a meeting with the SDO, Municipality Chairperson and the MLA regarding the emergency alert laid by the aftermath of the landslide. 21 gruel kitchens have been set in the affected areas and 8 rehabilitation centers are running in Kalimpong, ‘we have placed 4 relief camps in Block-1, 3 in block-2 and 1 in block-3’ said Radhika Aiyer, the SDO adding that the relief comprises of tarpaulins, blankets, special GR rice, and oils. The priorities of the departments as the ADM mentions are the causality, ‘to trace the missing ones and to take precautions to avoid further causalities has been out first priority, second is the highway’ said Bhagat. The ADM later gave weight on hiring more JCB’s from other companies other than GREF and Army to clear the Highway. Addressing a brief press conference in circuit house after the meeting, Rachana Bhagat said that the assessments of groceries and other rations have been taken from the BDO’s and the replenishment of LPG, petrol, and diesel will be done as the transportation in highway activates.  It was known that the RTO (Regional Transport Office) have been specially instructed to look after the unfair hike of the car fare as the chances of charging double fare is common in such situations. However, Bhagat informed that the stranded tourists are also provided with dry rations and packages of drinking water from the SDO office. In the other hand H.B Chettri the MLA said that the ADM has now been aware of the actual situation of the affected areas, ‘I have updated madam with the conditions of Gitdabling, Pochak and Kolakham which requires reconstruction rather than repair’ said Chettri. Speaking to the Medias he said that he has kept a word with the ADM to remunerate the municipality as it is running lack of fund, ‘after the discussion about the fund to the Municipality we have also discussed to keep stock of package of drinking water so that we can provide it to the ones who require it immediately and we have also given weight to concentrate on the construction of drains after roads’ added the MLA.

Photo: Nisha Chettri (TNI)