“10 killed, 120 injured and 3,218 houses damaged by Jan 4 quake”
IMPHAL, February 10: Even as reports of the entire Kabui Khullen Part I, the epi-centre of the january 4 earthquake shifting to safer places have surfaced, Chief Secretary O Nabakishore Singh has said that he has received no official information with regards to the report.
Nevertheless, the Chief Secretary told media persons that the government will provide necessary assistance including power supply, connectivity etc for the resettlement of the village if the reports are true.
The Chief Secretary was speaking to media persons during a press meet convened today at the conference hall of the New Secretariat block with regards to the earthquake issue.
According to him, a meeting of all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) was convened yesterday assessing the damage inflicted during the recent earthquake.
However, the concerned DC of the district had asserted that no official intimation of the shifting of Kabui Khullen has reached him (DC), he continued.
It may be noted that reports published in local dailies had stated that Kabui Khullen villagers have shifted to a safer place owing to expert’s suggestion that the crack developed in the middle of the village during the recent quake could prove dangerous during the rainy season.
Meanwhile, elaborating on the proceedings of yesterday’s meeting the Chief Secretary said that as per the assessment altogether 10 people were confirmed dead and 120 injured while 3,218 houses were affected during the quake.
Stating that most of the assessment of the Government buildings is done by the department concerned, he said the assessment for private structures could be incorrect. For which he appealed to the owners of affected structures to submit their data through their concerned DCs.
As per official data made available, the quake inflicted maximum damage in Senapati district with 1,591 houses being damaged followed by Imphal West district with 1010 damaged houses while Ukhrul district recorded Nil.
Surprisingly, reports of Tamenglong district which is the epicentre of the quake has stated only 59 houses were damaged by the quake.
Of the total damaged houses 1926 are partially damaged pucca/kutcha houses, 628 severely damaged kutcha houses, 50 severely damaged pucca houses, 532 fully damaged kutcha houses and 82 fully damaged pucca houses.
In termed of infrastructure damaged shown by the date altogether 248 schools, 106 infrastructures (community assets) and infrastructure (Government buildings) were damaged.
Nabakishore divulged that a sum of Rs 10 crore has been released for compensation which can be claimed through the concerned DCs.
Responding to queries on the status of the damaged Ima markets, Nabakishore said that the government is waiting for the expert committee report whether to repair or reconstruct the buildings.
At the same time, he appealed to the displaced market vendors, some of whom have reportedly shifted to the damaged buildings, to stay away from the damaged markets for their own safety.
The Chief Secretary further informed that the building by laws would soon be enforced strictly even for the private structure.