Our Correspondent
Imphal | January 7
As part of the humanitarian response from the government to help earthquake victims, two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) today distributed relief items in Manipur’s Tamenglong district.
The NDRF personnel visited Kabui Khullen in Tamenglong and other parts of the district ravaged by the powerful 6.8 magnitude tremor that struck the state on January 4. Kabui Khullen near Noney was the epicenter of the quake. A 15-year-old girl was killed while many were injured and several houses destroyed due to the quake.
Relief materials were given to the victims including those families who have been left homeless by the before dawn tremor. The NDRF teams were assisted by Assam Rifles personnel in the humanitarian assistance.
Manipur government has sanctioned Rs 2.40 crore to pay compensation to the earthquake victims. Manipur Chief Secretary announced that Rs 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each to those critically injured. He said the state government has sought additional Rs 20 crore from the Centre for the earthquake relief.
On Thursday morning, a youth was killed and another seriously injured when they were cleaning debris inside a crumbled building in Leimakhong area in Senapati district. The building was damaged by the recent quake.
Manipur Lions Club International District extended financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Earthquake Relief Fund. Lions Clubs in North East are continuously sending monetary aid for the earthquake victims of Manipur.
IIT experts to study building performance
Kolkata (IANS): A team of experts from IIT-Kanpur hosted National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering (NICEE) will be leaving for quake-hit Manipur to study the performance of built environment in the disaster, an official said.
"The NICEE will be conducting a field trip during the next few days. The primary objective of such reconnaissance visits it to study the performance of built environment. We usually travel to the affected areas after the initial phase of rescue and relief is over," Durgesh C. Rai Coordinator NICEE, IIT-Kanpur, told IANS on Wednesday.
Experts from IITs in Guwahati, Patna, Bhubaneswar will also be a part of the trip.
At least 8 people were killed and 120 were injured when a 6.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Manipur and the north-eastern region on January 4.
The NICEE has noted: "Many recently constructed (reinforced concrete) RC and brick masonry buildings have collapsed in Imphal. There are also reports of damages to houses in rural areas as well."
Manipur has sought Rs. 20 crore from centre, says Official
IANS: Manipur has sought Rs.20 crore from the centre for the relief and rehabilitation of the people affected by the January 4 earthquake, a senior official has said here.
However, the central government was yet to respond to the request, Manipur Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore said at a public function here on Wednesday evening.
"For the time being, the Manipur government has sanctioned Rs.2 crore for providing immediate relief to the affected, with Rs.50 lakh each given to four worst-affected districts," he said.
The chief secretary also said that a team of National Disaster Management Authority will visit Imphal on January 9 to assess the damage to two marketing complexes meant for women vendors.
Teams of National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force on Thursday morning visited Noney and Nungba sub-divisions in Tamenglong district, where the quake's epicentre was located.
Most villagers whose houses collapsed were allegedly facing the winter chill without any government assistance.
Villagers of Kabui Khullen, where the quake epicentre was located, complained that muddy water that spouted after the temblor had polluted streams and waterholes in the area.
After the quake, union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said: "The Centre has sought a report on the damages. Once we get it, adequate assistance will be extended."
