40 stranded foreigners evacuated from Sikkim
September 21st, 2011 - 9:43 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Around 40 foreigners who were stuck in quake-hit Sikkim have been evacuated, the government said Wednesday, clarifying that its earlier figure of 400 was wrong.
“Kindly refer to the release on earthquake update earlier sent to you. The number of foreigners stranded is 40 and not 400. All have since been evacuated,” an amendment sent by the home ministry said.
The update also said that at least 57 people had been killed in Sikkim as a result of the Sunday quake.
But Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling said in Gangtok the death toll had mounted to 68, with more than 300 injured.
“The tragedy has been enormous with 68 people killed and more than 300 injured. The loss has been extensive with 2,000 houses collapsed and more than 100,000 houses damaged,” Chamling told reporters.
“This (death toll) may increase further as rescue and release teams reach further into interior areas,” the home ministry said.
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Tags: chief minister, death toll, earthquake, foreigners, government said wednesday, home ministry, interior areas, New Delhi, quake, tragedy