IMPHAL, January 2016: Second update on earthquake briefing of the Chief Minister at 6 PM in his secretariat.
The Chief Minister expressed his condolence to the families of the deceased persons and promised all possible help to those injured in this morning‘s massive earthquake.
He appealed for calm and appealed to the people to stay at home as the State remains vulnerable to aftershocks.
According to the Chief Minister his government is now gathering and consolidating information and as of now the confirmed toll is six dead and 69 injured. “We anticipate an increase in these figures, as information from the peripheral areas of the state are still not complete” he said.
He quoted 200 completely damaged houses and 600 partially damage houses in Senapati District especially In Nepali concentrated areas.
To a query about help dispatched to the affected areas the Chief Minister said, “We have already received two teams of NDRF (National Disaster Response force) of 65 persons. One team has been despatched to Noney and Nungba area and the second team is deployed in and around Imphal area.”
The team in the Imphal area can act as the mobile team to be rushed to anywhere their help is needed as we cannot have a team in each and every district. The other team will be dispatched to Noney and Nungba area in Tamenglong where we suspect the epicentre of today’s earthquake was, the Chief Minister said.
In a press release latter, the Chief Minister highlighted the emergency measures taken up by his administration so far: A 24*7 Centre Control Room @ 0385- 2440909 is already set up for feedbacks.
Control rooms have also been set up at respective Deputy Commissioners’ and close liaison is maintained with the State Headquarters.
Telephone numbers for the Rapid Response Medical Teams for each district have been notified.
Essential Medicines and Medical kits have been procured and dispatched to all the district headquarters as well as to Moreh, Jiribam and Kangpokpi.
Instructions have been issued by the Medical Directorate that all Government and Private Hospitals should specifically reserve beds for earthquake victims and extend all possible support to the affected people.
School buildings have been identified by the medical Department for setting up temporary hospitals or relief camps if need arises.
Schools have been closed for one week.
In order to remain prepared for any worse aftershock, General holiday has been declared on 5 & 6 of January 2016 for State Government Departments except Departments/Offices providing essential services like Health, Works, PHED, Power, IFCD, Security establishments and Secretariat.
The Chief Minister explained that this will ensure the presence of the household owners at home and minimized the impact on life and property in case of an aftershock and further help to lessen the traffic for free and rapid movement of the emergency response teams.
He said, A National Disaster Response Force of 65 members have arrived. One team has been dispatched to Noney and Nungba area and another team is deployed in and around Imphal area.
The Chief Minister assured the people of Manipur that the State Government is fully committed and prepared to deal with the present or any imminent natural disaster. However to a query, while maintaining that batch training is done the Chief Minister admits, ‘We cannot claim that we are well equipped and have sufficient manpower since this is a new sector that we have just started.”
He also said a well equipped aircraft has arrived and a special medical team is expected tomorrow from NDRF.
The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister as well as the Union Home
Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to him directly this morning and assured any possible help. He also mentioned that the two Union Ministers namely Minister of State, Kiren Rijiju and DoNER Minister, DrJitendra Singh had enquired about the situation and they had collectively discussed the status together.