Dharamsala : The 17th Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje on Monday expressed his sorrow over the loss of life and property due to Sunday’s powerful earthquake in Sikkim, NE India and Nepal.
“I am extremely saddened to hear about the loss of human life and the severe destruction caused by the recent earthquake in Sikkim and other parts of North and East of India and Nepal. The people who are affected are in my thoughts. I offer prayers for the deceased and the survivors to be relieved of their pain and suffering soon,” the Karmapap said.
The death toll has gone up to to 40 with 19 people being killed in Sikkim, five in West Bengal, two in Bihar, seven each in Nepal and Tibet even as rescue and relief operations were stepped up in the affected areas.
Over a hundred people have been injured in the 6.8 magnitude tremor which has caused extensive damage to buildings and roads in Sikkim and several other places.
The Karmapa is the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage, one of the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
He fled Tibet in 2000 as a monk boy and lives in Dharamsala,Himachal Pradesh.
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
