Baichung Bhutia promises to raise funds for earthquake victims

Gangtok, Sep 20 (ANI): Former Indian footballer Baichung Bhutia on Tuesday said that he would raise funds for the victims of the earthquake that hit Sikkim on Sunday.

Bhutia, who hails from Sikkim, expressed his anguish after a devastating earthquake rocked the northeastern state.

"I am planning to raise funds, I am going down to Calcutta and Bombay, so hopefully, I will be trying personally as well through USFC to raise funds and we can do something in north Sikkim to rebuild the lost properties and rebuild houses, because obviously lives you cant do much about it, but obviously in any small you can contribute we want to contribute," said Bhutia.

The earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, has so far killed at least 82 people. The government confirmed 50 deaths in Sikkim and 18 in other states.

Sunday evening's earthquake with its epicentre near the border with Nepal, left a trail of devastation damaging roads, buildings and other structures, uprooting mobile phone towers and snapping communication and power lines. (ANI)