Vet hospital in North Sikkim in ruins

NIRMAL MANGAR
Gangtok, Sept. 17: The sole sub-divisional veterinary hospital at Chungthang in North Sikkim continues to be in ruins nearly a year after the September 18 earthquake and the only remains is a guest house with a single room where 37 employees carry out their duties.

The hospital is a vital centre in the region where people are largely dependent on animal husbandry and was constructed in 1976.

Staff quarters and feed stores damaged in the earthquake last year are yet to be repaired.

The employees are forced to share a room in the guesthouse for accommodation in a barracks-style arrangement. Despite these constraints, veterinary services are going on without any hiccups.

Veterinary officer D.D. Lachenpa said the supply of medicines is adequate till date and veterinary services are provided to the local farmers smoothly.

The sub-divisional hospital serves Lachung, Lachen, Chungthang, Shipgyer and Naga along with the yak breeding farm in Zema, Angora rabbit farm at Rabom and piggery breeding farm at Bop, Lachenpa said.

Animal husbandry secretary D.P. Sharma said repairs of the damaged infrastructure like the milk processing plant at Peyong, Class II quarters and guesthouses are being carried out in North Sikkim under the National Disaster Relief Fund. Sharma said a restoration proposal regarding the sub-divisional veterinary hospital at Chungthang has been put to the state government after an assessment. The proposal is being studied, he added.(TT_