Gangtok, Sep 22 : Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday reached quake-hit Sikkim to assess ongoing rescue and relief efforts.

He will be briefed about the situation on the ground and on the relief camps set up by the state administration, police and central forces.

Earlier, addressing mediapersons, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling conceded that property worth rupees one trillion had been destroyed by the devastating earthquake.

"The earthquake has caused massive damage to life and property in Sikkim. I feel property worth rupees one trillion has been destroyed in the earthquake. At least 68 people have been killed in Sikkim, while more than 300 persons have been injured. The injured are presently undergoing medical treatment in state hospitals," he added.

Chamling further said the state government would provide ex-gratia monetary aid to the bereaved families and injured victims to compensate for their losses.

"We have decided to grant rupees five hundred thousand as ex-gratia compensation to the families of those killed the calamity. We will also give rupees 50000 to the injured victims as compensation," added Chamling.

A powerful earthquake with a 6.8 magnitude hit Sikkim and several areas in the eastern part of the country and neighbouring Nepal on the evening of September 18.

The epicentre of the quake was located in the Mangan and Sakyong areas, over 50 kilometres from Gangtok on the Sikkim-Nepal border.

Tremors were also felt in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Delhi. (ANI)