After the devastating earthquake of 6.8 M lifeline infrastructure was destroyed including
hospitals, bus terminals, radio station transmitter, telephone exchange and mobile-phone towers bringing life to standstill in Sikkim.
Immediately after the catastrophic event CDRN emergency unit, contacted NDMA ,National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) ,SPARK NGO , FOSEP and many Sikkim based NGO’s working on ground in the affected areas for first hand information on critical needs.
CDRN team comprising SandeepKashyap with local implementation partner ParveenPradhan,SheetalPradhan of SPARK and Deepak Kumar All India Radio Correspondent
2. Background :
An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 occurred on 18th September at 18:11 hrs IST in Sikkim-Nepal
Border region. The preliminary hypo-central parameters of this earthquake, as estimated by the
Seismic Monitoring Network of India Meteorological Department (IMD) are given below:
Date of occurrence : 18/09/2011
Time : 18:11 hrs (IST)
Magnitude : 6.8
Focal depth : 10 Km
Epicentre
Latitude &Longitude : 27.7o N & 88.2o E
Region : Sikkim-Nepal Border region.
Source :- Indian Meteorological Department http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/eq.pdf
After earthquake devastation in majorly affected areas of Dikchu ,Singtam,Mangan and Ship Gyer
3. The event, which comes under the category of “Moderate earthquake”, was also reported and
widely felt in Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, northern parts of West Bengal, Bihar,parts of other eastern
and northern regions of India. The epicentre lies in a seismically known and active belt called, Alpide-
Himalayan seismic belt. The main shock was followed by several aftershocks of low intensity and a
few significant aftershocks (M≥4.0) located by the network.
Many areas in the region like Mangan ,Dikchu, Lachung , Chungthang were majorly destroyed and still
areas like Lachung and Chungthang remains disconnected from rest of the world .
The houses have developed cracks , base of the houses have completely shaken and cracks have
appeared on almost all the houses in the affected areas , which have make them inhabitable to live in
and there is a immediate need for them to be relocated to a different location and houses.
For consolidated reports, updates and pictures please visit the following sites:
CDRN Himalayan Earthquake Blog
CDRN Picassa Album
CDRN Inkind& Disaster Information System
NDMA Updates on Sikkim Earthquake
Press Information Bureau Updates on Sikkim Earthquake
4. Assessment Done by Corporate Disaster Resource Network (CDRN)
After the devastating earthquake of 6.8 M lifeline infrastructure was destroyed including
hospitals, bus terminals, radio station transmitter, telephone exchange and mobile-phone towers
bringing life to standstill in Sikkim.
Immediately after the catastrophic event CDRN emergency unit, contacted NDMA ,National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF) ,SPARK NGO , FOSEP and many Sikkim based NGO’s working on ground in the
affected areas for first hand information on critical needs.
CDRN team comprising SandeepKashyap with local implementation partner
ParveenPradhan,SheetalPradhan of SPARK and Deepak Kumar All India Radio Correspondent , went to
the following affected areas to assess the first hand information on critical needs required by the
earthquake victims :-
1. Shanti Nagar , Singtam
2. Topakhani Relief Camp , Sikkim
3. Macha
4. Dikchu
5. Mangan
6. Sangalaan
7. Toong
8. Ship Gyer
9. Dzongu
10. Parkha
CDRN was one of the first NGO to go to the majorly affected area of Ship Gyer .CDRN team trekked
down to reach the affected villages as the roads were still not open and assessed the needs for 900
individuals who were living in the two villages of Ship and Gyer
5. Assessment done in the following affected areas to found out major needs :-
Affected Area Number of Families Affected Number of Houses Damaged Requirement
Singtam Tarpaulin Sheets
Water Purifiers
29 29 House Partially Damaged
1. Topakhani Jerry Cans
Mosquito Nets
5 lakhs Financial Aid to
Demolish 2 Houses
3 Completely Damaged and Pre Fabricated Homes or
2. Shanti Nagar 23
19 Partially Damaged FRP Sheets
Mosquito Nets
3 Tents
Dikchu Jerry Cans
Solar Lanterns
2 Completely Damaged Mattresses
Lower Rakdong 22Partially Damaged
East Sikkim Tarpaulin Sheets
Pre Fabricated Homes or
24 FRP Sheets
Pre Fabricated Homes or
FRP Sheets
Upper Rakdong
21 21 Partially Damaged Solar Lanterns
North Sikkim
Torches With Batteries
Bed Sheets
4 Fully Damaged Pre Fabricated Homes or
Mangan 34 30 Partially Damaged with FRP Sheets
Inhabitable conditions
Blankets
Pre Fabricated Homes or
FRP Sheets
11 Kucha Houses of
Toong 11
Labourers Fully Damaged
Blankets
Mattresses
Rice
25 Fully Damaged rest are Pre Fabricated Homes or
partially damaged as around FRP Sheets
Shipgyer 142
50 are kucha houses in the
village
Dry Ration
6. During the assessment it has been found out that majority of the houses are damaged in the affected
regions and almost all the houses have developed cracks at the bases of the house which have make
these houses very prone to damage, even in the occurrence of a small magnitude earthquake .This can
lead to even far more deaths and devastation in the future.
There is an immediate need to meet requirements for prefabricated and earthquake prone homes to
save lots of lives and properties in the occurrence of a catastrophic event .
Houses in Singtam, Mangan and Dikchu where deep cracks have appeared, making them
inhabitable
7. CDRN Response to Sikkim Earthquake
Immediately after the tragedy the CDRN emergency unit, contacted NDMAand National
Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for first hand information on critical needs.
Devastating earthquake of 18th September lead to the destruction of lots of safe drinking water
sources in the region .Majority of the population in the affected areas rely on the water streams and
water falls, which have become muddy due to landslides and affected the mainstream water source of
the people. Clean drinkingwater for the survivors was urgently required.
CDRN Quickly assessed the situation and transferred 64,000 thousand water purification tablets
prepositioned for disasters by Medentech under the brand name Aquatabs .
SPARK and FOSEP in Sikkim were contacted to assess the immediate local needs.CDRN and SPARK
emergency units went to the affected regions and distributed the water purification tablets to the
affected communities .
CDRN teammet the Deputy Commissioner, of Mangan area to integrate with ongoing initiatives of the
Government and to coordinate with all stakeholders.
CDRN team held a meeting with Parliament Secretary of Sikkim Mr AM Sharma who is also looking
after Disaster Management . He highlighted that construction of new houses with earthquake proof
material and guidelines should be taken on utmost priority and efforts should need to be taken to
build a state disaster management authority in Sikkim for effective disaster management.
CDRN team with Mr AL Sharma’s relief team distributed 10000 water purification tablets to Shanti
Nagar and Topakhani relief camps in Singtam area to 51 families.
CDRN and SPARK teams meeting with CDRN Team meeting with Deputy Commissioner
Mr AL Sharma Parliament Mangan for relief coordination and assessment
Secretary Disaster Management
Sikkim Government
8. CDRN and SPARK team visited the majorly affected area of MachaDikchu,ToongandShipgyerwhere
clean drinking water was a major requirement . CDRN provided the local NGO Dikchu Youth Welfare
Associationwith 5000 water purification tablets and gave the demonstration to the affected people on
the usage of water purification tablets also provided 1000 water purification tablets to 11 affected
families in Toong and 8000 water purification tablets to 142 affected families of Shipgyer .
CDRN team also visited the NDRF 2ndBattalion medical camp to and gave 3000 Medentechwater
purification tablets to the medical staff.
CDRN Team Conducted Training on Proper Usage of AquatabWater Purification Tablets
CDRN Team giving demonstration on the usage CDRN Team at NDRF Medical Camp Mangan
of water purification tablets at handing over Water Purification Tablets
Dikchu Relief Camp to the NDRF medical staff
CDRN Team giving demonstration on usage of water purification tablets at
Shanti nagar Relief Camp , Singtam
9. Building a Future
More than two weeks after the tragedy, rehabilitation is a key priority. According to estimates,
80% of the infrastructure in Sikkim has been affected by the earthquakeand requires immediate
attention to have ongoing safety and future focus for Disaster Risk Reduction with a key focus on
structural integrityof infrastructure.
Impact on Livelihood :
The earthquake's impact on lives and livelihoods appears to have been more severe on the most rural,
agricultural and remote areas of Sikkim like in Mangan , Dikchu ,Shipgyer , Lachun , Chungthang etc.
The four professions that were most affected by the disaster, in terms of income, included farm
labourers, non-farm labourers ,farmers and factory workers .Most of the farms in Sikkim are step
farms on hills are destroyed due to landslides and earthquake cracks . The shop buildings and small
agro industries near Gangtok and Singtam are shut down for repair or to demolish the building, which
is severely affecting the lives of the victims.
A significant number of households had shifted to living on earthquake-related compensation benefits
as they don’t have any work to do now .
There is a critical need to support livelihoods and provide for the affected communities of the
Sikkim Earthquake.
Earthquake Impact on School and College Buildings :
As per the CDRN team’s assessment , school and educational buildings have suffered extensive
damage. Around 23 school buildings are completely damaged .Sikkim Government has ordered all the
school colleges to remain close till 10th October 2011.
The Primary and Secondary schools in Singtam have developed deep cracks in the building’s base and
walls , because of which the school have been shut down. Secondary School in Dalachand in North
Sikkim also damaged and wall has been destroyed .
JNA School in Gangtok and Namgayal Academy is also severely affected .The Sikkim University boys’
hostel located near Smile Land, Marchak, which houses around 60 students, has also suffered severe
damage.
Most of the schools are shut down in the region , and no other provisions are made for the proper
running of schools, which is hampering the studies of students when there annual examinations are
only 1 and half months away.
10. The Scheduled Caste Girls’ Hostel of Sikkim Government College, situated in Gairigaon, Tadong, has
developed numerous cracks mostly on the second and third floor of the building.
Ship KunzangCholing and RinghimGompa Monastery which acts a education centre point for many
families and remotely located villages is severely affected and roads are completely damaged to reach
the monastery , affecting severely the studies of children.
There is an immediate need for the affected children of the Sikkim Earthquake to have a safe
environment to be educated where infrastructure has been affected.
Shipgyer Monastery with deep cracks RinghimGompa which is completely destroyed
Impact on Health Centres :
The devastating earthquake destroyed 30 Hospital buildings in Sikkim. Following is the break up of
destroyed Hospital Buildings in the affected regions :-
District No of Hospitals Damaged
North Sikkim 7 Fully Damaged
East 23 Fully Damaged
West Sikkim Not Reported
South Sikkim Not Reported
Source :- Microfinance Monitor http://www.microfinancemonitor.com/2011/09/23/sikkim-earthquake-2011-update-as-of-1-p-m-friday/
Most of the Sikkim Government Medical and Para Medical Staff is stationed in the far-flung areas in
Lachung , Shipgyer , Toong and in North Sikkim , leaving behind the Mangan and nearby areas with
less number of Medical Staff. NDRF teams come in to fill the void for medical staff and created
medical camps in Mangan and nearby areas to serve the earthquake victims.
11. In CDRN ‘s continuous efforts to bring back to normalcy those affected by the Sikkim Earthquake, we
require below mentioned products as people start moving back to their native villages from relief
camps and government buildings . With winter just two months away, construction ofsafe new
settlements before winters are a big challenge.
Pre Fabricated Homes and FRP Sheets
Revival of make shifts schools for children
Psycho social support for survivors
Food items like Rice ,Chidwa and Pulses
Solar Lanterns
Water Purifiers
Please contribute to rebuild the lives of Sikkim Earthquake Victims
Contact CDRN Team At :-
Communications@cdrn.org.in
Contact Number : 011 65422890,46767758
B5/6 , 4599
VasantKunj
New Delhi -110070
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