Earthquake toll rises to 50; Fresh landslide near Sikkim

Gangtok:  Over 50 people have died in India, most of them in Sikkim, in the devastating earthquake which measured a forceful 6.8 on the Richter scale. The quake hit parts of North India at around 6 pm on Sunday and was centred on the Sikkim-Nepal border, 64 kilometres north-west of Gangtok. Casualties have also been reported from neighbouring Bihar and West Bengal.

At least 20 people have also died in Nepal and Tibet. Indian Home Secretary RK Singh said on Monday that the death toll may rise further.

Nearly 36 hours after the region's worst earthquake in 60 years, rescue operations remain the biggest challenge - rain and landslides are severely hampering the efforts; bad weather is not allowing helicopters to land, Indian Air Force planes are air-dropping food. There are reports of a fresh landslide in Gerkhola, 30 kms from Sikkim border, several roads are still blocked.

Nine helicopters are being used to airdrop food and other supplies to areas like Siliguri.

More than 6000 Army jawans are being used to provide assistance to those affected. Around 2000 people have taken shelter at Army camps.

Among the toughest parts of the recovery is the operation to re-open National Highway 31A which connects Sikkim to the rest of the country, and is needed to bring in food and other supplies.

A breakthrough came late on Monday afternoon when the Army was able to clear a crucial road from Siliguri in West Bengal to Gangtok. The optical fiber link to Gangtok has also been restored.

In Sikkim's capital, Gangtok, the devastation seems absolute. More than 100,000 buildings have been severely damaged. Government offices and hospitals have been left unusable.

The Chief Minister cannot use his office. Water and power supply remain erratic; phone towers have been hit, making communication tough.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who will visit Gangtok today, said that her priority is to ensure that National Highways 31A and 55, damaged by landslides, are repaired urgently so that food and other supplies can be transported.

Meanwhile, a seismic observatory in Shillong said that an earthquake of 4.3 magnitude on the Richter scale shook parts of Meghalaya on Monday.