By IANS,
Siliguri (West Bengal) : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said her government, which has extended support to quake-hit Sikkim, will continue its rescue and relief aid and she will soon visit the neighbouring state too.
“We have already sent food and medical packs. These have already reached. I had a talk with (Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar) Chamling last (Sunday) evening. We will continue providing all support to the rescue and relief work there. Whatever is necessary, we will do,” she said.
Banerjee said disaster management personnel and relief materials that had to wait till Monday morning due to inclement weather and land slides have reached the affected areas in Sikkim.
She also said she wished to visit Sikkim to monitor the relief work. “If possible, I will try to visit the place tomorrow (Tuesday). Since the place is even far away from Gangtok and roads have been badly affected, it will take time to reach there.”
“Also the relief and rescue work is on and I don’t want to disturb them. However, if I can manage I will try to go to Sikkim with the medical kits and food packs that will be going (Tuesday),” said Banerjee.
Banerjee was visiting north Bengal to take stock of relief work in the quake-hit araes.
At least 42 people have died and over 100 have been injured in the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked large parts of eastern and northern India. The high-intensity quake, which was followed by two aftershocks, Sunday evening, had its epicenter on the Sikkim-Nepal border.