Earthquake: Places near epicentre still out of reach in Sikkim

GANGTOK: The worst-affected Mangan and Singhtam areas in quake-hit Sikkim are still out of bounds for rescue workers with massive landslides blocking key roads today.

"These areas, near the epicentre of the earthquake, are totally damaged. The roads from Gangtok to Mangan are blocked by massive landslides on at least 14 places," Army officials said following an aerial survey in the area.

The earthquake has left a trail of devastation damaging roads, houses, and other structures, uprooting mobile phone towers and snapping communication and power lines.

At least 41 people have been killed in the earthquake in Sikkim. Twenty-two people travelling in a bus went missing since last evening in the North district of Sikkim.

The North district headquarters of Mangan, located 65 km from Gangtok, seems to be totally devastated, officials said.

Both the routes to Mangan are cutoff by landslides and developed huge cracks following the earthquake. Efforts are being made to provide relief and rescue operations to the affected people in this area through helicopters, officials said.

Food packets have been dropped in the inaccessible areas of the state. Army troops, NDRF teams and disaster management authorities are working round-the-clock to clear the debris and open roads. Relief efforts have been hampered by torrential rain and landslides in most areas of the state.