Heavy rains hamper relief operations in Sikkim

Rescue and relief operations in quake-hit Sikkim have been suspended due to incessant rain on Monday.

"Due to heavy rains, airlift and other relief activities is not being carried out in Chugthang, Lachen and Lachung," an update from the Ministry of Home Affairs stated.

There are still around 400 people stuck in villages where rescue workers are struggling to reach.

The earthquake of 6.8 magnitude killed at least 100 people and has left many more injured in Sikkim. It had also jolted Nepal, Tibet and Bangladesh.

Nearly four days after the quake, rescue operation is still on. However rain and landslides have been acting as hurdles in the process and several places in north Sikkim - the worst affected

"There are at least three villages beyond Manang which are still cut off after the earthquake and at least 300-400 people are in those villages," BB Rai, of the Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim (VHAS), told IANS on phone from Gangtok.

"Rescue work has been difficult. Our rescue workers have been trying to reach these villages on foot and managed to reach Linzay, beyond Manang," he added.

Tay Sakyong and Pentong are the other two villages which are still cut off.

The state government has opened more than 100 relief camps across the tremor-affected areas. Over 2,700 and 550 people have been provided relief and shelter at the army and ITBP camps (at Pengong) respectively.

Army helicopters engaged in relief operation have been dropping ration and evacuating stranded people from different parts of north Sikkim.

Chungthang is by far the worst affected town which has suffered a trail of devastation and destruction left by the earthquakes.

The army has opened seven relief camps at Chungthang where most people living in villages surrounding the sub-divisional town have arrived, according to PTI.

As many as 13 deaths have taken place at Chungthang alone, many are missing and almost all houses and structures have been damaged.