Tag: earthquake

earthquake

WB Govt opens control room for earthquake relief

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West Bengal Government today started a round-the-clock control room at Nabanna after another earthquake jolted parts of Bengal.

The helpline numbers launched by West Bengal Government are: 1070 and (033) 22143526.

 

WB CM wrote on Facebook:

“Earthquake has once again struck many parts of our State and other parts of the country and abroad. We are with all our brothers & sisters. I appeal to our people to maintain calm. Our Government will provide all support.”

 

Image: File Photo of earthquake in Nepal

WB CM distributes relief at Indo-Nepal border

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee was present at the Panitanki check post on the Indo-Nepal border today to oversee the passage of truckloads of relief materials from India to Nepal after the devastating earthquake that shook Nepal.

West Bengal government has sent 30 trucks to Nepal with water, medicines, dry and packaged food, tarpaulins among other things.

The West Bengal Chief Minister had earlier visited Siliguri in North Bengal on last Sunday, April 26, 2015, to take stock of the damages in north Bengal after Saturday’s earthquake. She visited the affected people in Siliguri and Mirik and had said that a rescue team was also being rushed to Nepal. She had also chaired a meeting with the district magistrates of the six north Bengal districts to assess the situation and send relief materials.

Incidentally, West Bengal, under Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, had always stood beside the disaster affected States, at the crunch time. Earlier, in September 2011, Ms Mamata Banerjee had undertaken sending of relief materials to the earthquake –affected Sikkim. She had also visited the State. In fact, West Bengal Government was the first to reach relief materials and medical kits to the quake-hit people of Sikkim.

The Chief Minister tweeted:

WB CM announces earthquake crisis management group

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today formed a crisis management group to deal with the impact of the devastating Nepal earthquake on three districts of north Bengal and said monetary assistance would be sought from the Centre after detailed assessment of the damages.

“We have formed a crisis management group headed by Director General of Police (Coastal Security) Raj Kanojia. It has members from the disaster management group, police and hospital authorities,” Banerjee told a press conference.

Before interacting with the press, she visited some of the places affected by Saturday’s 7.9 magnitude earthquake in neighbouring Nepal, which shares its border with the Darjeeling district.

“We will write to the Centre for financial assistance only after making a detailed assessment of damages to life and property,” the chief minister said, adding, it was the onus of the central government to provide such support as it was a case of natural disaster.

“We are not very worried about funds. Our first priority is to save and protect lives. We will ask for funds from the Centre only after proper and total assessment,” she said in reply to a question.

“We are sending a bus to Nepal to send people who want go there to meet their near and dear ones, as also to bring back those stranded there,” Banerjee said.

“108 people from Bengal who were in Nepal for various purposes are yet to be traced and efforts are on to locate them,” she said.

“As per the information available, another 336 people of Bengal who were in Nepal have either come back or are on their way back,” she said.

“I have asked the PWD and Irrigation departments to check all the bridges in North Bengal to find out whether these have been damaged by the earthquake,” the chief minister said after holding a meeting with senior officials of different departments here.

Saugata Roy speaks on the earthquake tragedy in Nepal and India | Full Transcript

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Full Transcript

Madam, I am drawing the attention of the House to the terrible human tragedy that happened in our neighbouring country of Nepal on the 25 April, 2015.

The earthquake with the epicentre near Pokhra in Nepal caused by shifting of tectonic plates in Himalayas has caused immense damage in that country with number of deaths crossing 2400 and 1000 injured. Huge amount of property has been destroyed in that country. It is good that Government of India has sent rescue teams with relief materials to Nepal through the Indian Air Force as a humanitarian gesture.

The earthquake has also affected India. At least 63 people are dead – 46 in Bihar, 13 in UP, 2 each in West Bengal and Rajasthan.One hundred and fifty six people have been injured in Bihar, 43 in UP and 52 in West Bengal and also some in Sikkim. The Government of India has been in touch with these States for relief. More needs to be done in the form of disaster relief.

The West Bengal Chief Minister has gone to north Bengal, where the earthquake happened, to supervise relief and rescue operations.

We are told that the National Disaster Management Authority is supervising relief work in Nepal and in India. But I would like to know how much money has been released from National Disaster Relief Fund for different states.

Madam, earthquakes cannot be prevented. There are large numbers of high-rises as well as illegal construction. The Government should examine whether these buildings are earthquake-resistant and whether proper disaster management teams are in place in the big cities which will be affected more by the earthquake.

I express deep sorrow at the deaths including those who died at the Everest Base Camp.

earthquake

Our prayers are with the people of Nepal: Trinamool in Parliament

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Trinamool Congress today expressed grief and sorrow at the immense loss of life and property in Nepal and parts of India due to the earthquake on 25 April, 2015.

During a discussion in both Houses of the Parliament, Derek O’Brien and Saugata Roy extended solidarity with the people of Nepal in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively.

“The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was dissolved. Out of a board of 12 odd members, only three members have been appointed so far. My humble suggestion to the government is not to keep those seats vacant,” Derek O’Brien said.

He added that the formula to handle such situations was PIC – Preparedness, Infrastructure and Communication. While the communication on government’s part was satisfactory, a lot was needed to be done in preparedness, he opined.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

 

In Lok Sabha, Saugata Roy said that huge loss of life and properties has happened in Nepal. It is good Indian govt has sent relief material to Nepal. He appreciated the central government’s role in relief operations but said a lot more could be done.

He also wanted to know from the government how much funds have been released from the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

 

The image is a representative one (courtesy: qz.com)

Derek O’Brien speaks on the earthquake tragedy in Nepal and India | Full Transcript

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Full Transcript

Deputy Speaker Sir,

Desmond Doig, the famous journalist who lived in Kolkata and spent most of his time in Kathmandu in Nepal – he died many years ago – remembered the country for the comforting vision of Nepal with its emerald fields and terracotta huts and purple rain. In the last two days what we saw was anything but comforting.

On behalf of everyone in the country, as well as West Bengal, where we had casualties, we convey our deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives.

Sir, for such a situation like this, our belief is that, the formula has to be PIC – Preparedness, Infrastructure and Communication. Since it is a different country, I should not comment on infrastructure. We should also prepare ourselves for facing disasters like these.

From an Indian point of view, our learning yesterday was, whether it was central government or the state government – governments of UP, Bengal and Bihar – the communication was very, very strong. Whether it was the Chief Minister of Bengal or the Prime Minister’s Office or other offices, communication went out well.

It is my duty to inform this House what happened in Bengal in terms of rescue. The disaster management teams were monitoring the situation. Everyone forgot about the local municipal elections. The administration was very focussed on the rescue efforts.

Disaster management meetings were chaired by the Chief Minister and the teams went out that evening. Everyone was very concerned. 15 mountaineers from Bengal came back safely.

Yesterday the Chief Minister of Bengal was in north Bengal, monitoring the situation. She had the opportunity to meet the families of those who had lost their lives.

The communication efforts, the disaster management efforts, specially up in north Bengal – Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling – were very well handled. In these situations, we always look up to the Army, Navy and the Air Force. They must also be congratulated.

I want to end with a suggestion, Sir. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was dissolved. Not that having an NDMA would have solved the earthquake problem, but out of a board of 12 odd members, only three members have been appointed so far. My humble suggestion to the government is not to keep those seats vacant.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the people of Nepal and the people of the States which are affected.

WB CM visits earthquake-affected areas in north Bengal

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today reached north Bengal to take stock of the damage caused by the earthquake that hit parts of India and Nepal yesterday.

After arriving at Bagdogra airport, Ms Banerjee said, “There has been a lot of damage. 55 people are hospitalised in Siliguri. We have sent a rescue team to Nepal already.”

Earlier in the day she tweeted that 31 people out of 336 tourists from Bengal, who were stranded in Nepal, have been rescued. They were being flown back to India.

WB CM met the family of Rupban Khatun, aged 45, a victim of the earthquake. She also visited people in hospital who are suffering from earthquake injuries and trauma.

The government has launched a toll-free helpline number for the control room: 1070.

WB CM has been constantly sharing information regarding the rescue operations through her Twitter channel:

WB CM to visit north Bengal, to take stock of damages due to earthquake

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee took quick administrative measures after an earthquake rattled vast areas of the State, especially the north Bengal.

She said that her prayers are with the people of Nepal and rest of India which were also affected by the earthquake. She urged everyone to stay calm while hoping for their safety.

The Chief Minister said that the Government was monitoring the situation closely and will be traveling to north Bengal tomorrow to take stock of the damage caused.

Mamata Banerjee had been constantly providing updates of the situation through her Twitter account.

 

 

Addressing a press conference at Nabanna, the Chief Minister said:

• We have opened a control room on behalf of Disaster Management group for the earthquake. The Toll Free No is 1070. The Helpline No is 033-2214  3562.

• I have spoken to the PM. We have informed him about the situation in the State. We are assessing the situation.

• All police stations in Kolkata have been alerted. They will stay in touch with KMC to collect information on damage.

• The State Government will do whatever it can to help people in this time of crisis.

• Three people died in north Bengal. 30 people injured all over the state until now.

• There should not be any panic. We have to take all precautions and prevention.