Sikkim Earthquake 18TH September 2011

Situation Report

Corporate Disaster Resource Network

www.cdrn.org.in

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

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

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

Assessment done in the following affected areas to found out major needs :-

Affected Area Number of Families Affected Number of Houses Damaged Requirement

Singtam

29 29 House Partially Damaged

Tarpaulin Sheets

1. Topakhani

Water Purifiers

Jerry Cans

Mosquito Nets

2. Shanti Nagar 23 3 Completely Damaged and 19 Partially Damaged

5 lakhs Financial Aid to Demolish 2 Houses

Pre Fabricated Homes or FRP Sheets

Mosquito Nets

3 Tents

Dikchu

24

2 Completely Damaged 22Partially Damaged

Jerry Cans

Lower Rakdong East Sikkim

Solar Lanterns

Mattresses

Tarpaulin Sheets

Pre Fabricated Homes or FRP Sheets

Upper Rakdong North Sikkim

21 21 Partially Damaged

Pre Fabricated Homes or FRP Sheets

Solar Lanterns

Torches With Batteries

Bed Sheets

Mangan 34 4 Fully Damaged

30 Partially Damaged with Inhabitable conditions

Pre Fabricated Homes or FRP Sheets

Blankets

Toong 11 11 Kucha Houses of

Labourers Fully Damaged

Pre Fabricated Homes or FRP Sheets

Blankets

Mattresses

Rice

Shipgyer 142

25 Fully Damaged rest are partially damaged as around 50 are kucha houses in the

village

Pre Fabricated Homes or FRP Sheets

Dry Ration

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Contact CDRN On Social Media At :