'108 people from Bengal still missing in Nepal'

Siliguri, April 27: At least 108 people from West Bengal were missing in earthquake-hit Nepal, where 336 others from the state have been trapped after the devastating tural calamity, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here on Monday. Banerjee also said the series of quakes and aftershocks have affected 62 blocks in her state. “As many as 62 blocks of West Bengal have been affected. 108 people from our state are missing in Nepal, where 336 from Bengal are trapped... we are looking into it,” she said on a visit to the quake-affected areas in north Bengal. In Siliguri itself, about 3,000 houses have been damaged on account of Saturday’s quake.

Banerjee said a vehicle carrying rescuers as also the Indian relatives of the citizens of Nepal is slated to start for Kathmandu from Siliguri. She said a team of 15 Indian mountaineers who had gone for an expedition to Mt Everest is trapped there and rescue efforts are on. The chief minister said a team of ten disaster magement personnel will be set up in each of the 19 districts of the state comprising personnel of the Indian army, the Border Security Force, police and others to tackle problems of this stature in future. The squad has been med Seva Shree team. The state government is presently evaluating the destruction in Bengal caused by the series of quakes on Saturday, and the resultant aftershocks on Sunday and Monday. Banerjee, accompanied by North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb met senior state officials and police in Darjeeling district. (IANS)