Strategic roads can’t be restored before two months: Army
Last Sunday’s earthquake in Sikkim has severely hampered the Army’s movement and temporarily cast a shadow on its rapid counter strike ability in the strategically crucial mountainous state. The Army’s in-house assessment is that it would take more than two months to restore the road network, vital for movement in northern Sikkim that abuts China. The infantry units under the 112 Brigade - some 5,500 men and officers - that is responsible for northern Sikkim are well stocked on all accounts - food, equipment like 105 MM artillery guns, vehicles and fuel. The road blockade will also not affect the movement of the infantry as the troops anyway walk over obstacles. Besides, officials said that the quake would not have any impact on preparedness. But, with the roads blocked, the movement of stocks, equipment, ammunition and weapons will be hit. The roads are needed to move heavy things that require wheeling in. Fields reports from the Army reaching the headquarters here have led to the assessment that it could take two months to restore two key road arteries that take off from Chungthang (some 70 km north of Gangtok). One leads west to the Lachen valley and other leads east into the Lachung valley. Both the roads are vital for maintaining supplies to northern Sikkim. In case of an exigency, there will be no way to replenish troops and equipment once the stocks stored at the forward bases finish. Meanwhile, the Army has physically covered 94 villages in their search-and-rescue operations
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