Many from Assam missing in Nepal

Kamrup Metro DC promises action against risky mobile towers, 600 buildings in Guwahati unsafe, city landmarks to be assessed

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 26: Out of the 90 persons from Assam in quake-hit Nepal, 55 are still there while 29 were brought back by the Indian Air Force to New Delhi in two batches on Sunday. Six persons from Morigaon district are reported to safe in that country. This was jointly informed by PK Tiwari, Chief Executive Officer, Assam State Disaster Magement Authority (ASDMA) and Hiren th, IGP (SB) at a press conference held here on Sunday.

The Indian Air Force swung into action within hours of the disaster in Nepal.

The officials said the first batch of 19 persons hailing from Assam, are now being kept at a Delhi hotel after they were brought back to India. “They will reach Guwahati tomorrow by flight,” the officials added.

The officials further said of the 55 persons from Assam still in Nepal, contacts were established with some of them till Sunday afternoon. “We are in touch with the Ministry of Exterl Affairs in this regard,” the officials said, adding, “An eleven-member mountaineering team from the State is still in that country but they are safe.”

When asked about the news that 4 persons from the city’s Hengrabari area died in the quake in Nepal, both Tiwari and th said they have no confirmed information about the incident. “A helpline number 1070 was opened so that people concerned can receive or give information about their near and dear ones who are still in the quake ravaged Himalayan tion,” they said.

On the vulnerability of Assam if a huge magnitude quake hits the State, Tiwari said, “The State falls in the seismic zone five and so, threat is always there. Assam has been hit by 16 moderate intensity quake in the months of February, March and April last.”

He said, “According to a study conducted by Assam Engineering College on the vulnerability of city buildings — including school, hospital and government buildings — to high intensity quakes, most of 600 such buildings are not safe,” adding, “Time to time, mock drills are held in schools here to make the students aware of what to do and what not to do when earthquake strikes. Even people living in apartments in the city are also given training.”

Tiwari said some buildings in Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Majuli and Guwahati have developed cracks due to the earthquake.

The Chief Executive Officer of the ASDMA also said while people should not panic, they must always be alert.

Meanwhile Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner M Angamuthu said cellular companies would be showcaused due to complaints of faulty set up of mobile towers on rooftops of buildings in the city. “Some of the important landmarks in the city, like Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati Refinery and Guwahati Museum, will be assessed by the district administration in terms of their vulnerability to high intensity quakes. We have also formed inspection teams to monitor reported cracks in some of the buildings in the city,” he said.