Saturday, October 1, 2011

Army choppers fly more than 10,000 kgs in supplies to North Sikkim

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: Indian Army’s fleet of seven helicopters dedicated to relief operations in Sikkim airlifted more than 10,000 kgs of essential commodities and other supplies to North district today. These helicopters are flying sorties out of Gangtok and Mangan and air-lifting supplies being dispatched by the Food & Civil Supplies Department and relief packets put together by NGOs and aid agencies.
The Department of Food & Civil Supplies alone supplied [through the army choppers] 930 kg of rice, 360 kg of dal, 280 kg of atta, 95 litres of mustard oil and 180 kg of potatoes to Lachen, Thangu and Chungthang in six sorties today.
Meanwhile, Army spokesperson, Colonel Ravi Patil, informed that despite of the Prime Minister’s visit to Sikkim, relief operations continued without break today, with most of these launched from Mangan when the Libing helipad here was engaged for the PM’s visit. The army still managed to get some flights off the ground from Libing before the helipad was engaged for VVIP duty.
A total of 3,040 kg of rations were dropped to different locations in North Sikkim from Gangtok, the Colonel informs. He detailed that 1,000 kg was dropped at Lachen, 1,250 kg at Chungthang, 400 kg at Lachung and 390 kg at Thangu.
Likewise, a total of 7,065 kg in relief material including tents, blankets and other items was dropped at different locations in North Sikkim from Mangan helipad.
Col Patil further informed that along with relief materials, three technicians along with equipment were also dropped at Lachung to help repair the power house there. A consignment of water pipes was also dropped at Chungthang.
Army helicopters also evacuated 41 people from different locations in North Sikkim, of whom 28 were dropped at Mangan and rest flown to Gangtok, Penangla and Bagdogra. He informed among the 41, were 3 ITBP personnel who have taken sick and who were flown to Bagdogra directly.
No more reservation of ‘choice’ numbers
GANGTOK, 29 Sept: The Transport Department has explained duplication of registration numbers [of vehicles], as reported in sections of the media, to the practice of ‘reservation of choice numbers in advance’.
In an office order issued today, the Department has directed that “to avoid further complications and complaints, the present practice of reservation of numbers should not be entertained except the government vehicles meant for VIPs”.
“In future, if there will be such complaints from the public, the officers who are entertaining the practice of reservation of choice registration number will be liable for disciplinary action,” the office order warns.
Releasing copies of this office order to the Press today, the All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Unemployed Association president, Nawin Kiran, informed his organization had brought the duplication to light following which the department took action.

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