Sikkim: 50,000 people living in high landslide zone

GANGTOK: Over 50,000 people in about a dozen areas in Sikkim are living under constant spectre of natural disasters like earthquake and landslide, according to a Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping report.

At least 10,000 households are situated in highly vulnerable zone in a dozen localities in East Sikkim district, an official of the Geo Informatics Cell of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) said.

A study undertaken by GIS has identified localities like Taza Amba, Changey Lakha, Subaney Dara, Lingam, Machong, Suman Lingzey, West Pendam, Lower Martam, Chisopani, Beyong Khamdong, Budang and Thangsing as highly seismic zone, GIS principal system analyst L P Sharma said.

The study was conducted by using remote sensing technology to identify the vulnerability of these areas in terms of natural disasters like earthquake and landslide, he said.