Landslide victims compensated

Gangtok , Sikkim : The Sikkim government has paid an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the landslide victim family at Dentam in West Sikkim.

Three persons of a family ~ Mingma Sherpa (35), her son Lalit Pradhan (15) and daughter Leela Pradhan (14) ~ were killed in the calamity that occurred on Wednesday when their house was swept away by heavy rains and mudslide.

Two other houses ~ one at Bingtem village and another at Dentam near Pelling, were also damaged in the rain. “More compensation would be provided to the other victims’ families. The official procedure is going on,” government officials, said.

Meanwhile, officials from DAC and Quick Response Team under the Disaster Management Department from West district have been deployed to search the valuables of the houses affected in the slide.

Several minor landslides occurred between Pelling and Dentam in West Sikkim blocking the state highway. Communication was restored later.

Meanwhile, with each passing day the cracks in various houses at Kharey Busty in Kurseong are widening owing to continuous rainfall over the past few days.

The houses at Lower Kharey Busti, under St. Mary’s gram panchayat area are the worst affected. have been particularly hard hit.

Former area councillor of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Mr NB Khawas and St. Mary’s gram panchayat pradhan Mr Ajit Rai visited the affected area today. They instructed the residents to vacate their houses soon and shift to safer places.

Source: The Statesman