Darjeeling landslides kill 38; NDRF, Army called out

At least 38 people were killed and scores missing following landslides triggered by incessant rain in various parts of Darjeeling hills on Wednesday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee postponed her Birbhum tour and rushed to North Bengal to oversee relief operations.

A central team, headed by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, visited landslide-hit areas in Darjeeling and took stock of rescue and relief operations. The Centre has also rushed in two teams of the National Disaster Response Force to Darjeeling to assist the Army, which had been called out for relief and rescue work.

Rijiju, who arrived on Wednesday evening following a directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited relief camps in Tingling area 

under Kurseong sub-division where hundreds of people were rendered homeless after the disaster.

Rijiju, along with Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia and officials of Home Ministry and NDRF, visited hospitals and met hundreds of injured people. Immediate relief is being provided to all needy people, he said.

Bimal Gurung, Gorkhaland Council chief, State Government officials along with NDRF & SSB officials were accompanying the Minister.

The team will visit Kalimpong on Thursday. “All efforts are being made for rescue and relief operation by combining efforts of the State and Central Governments,” he said.

“Despite rough and hilly region and inclement weather, rescue efforts were on. It is very sad to see such catastrophic damages. So far, 38 bodies have been recovered and efforts are on to recover the remaining missing people,” he said.

However, Darjeeling SP Amit Javalgi said: “We have recovered 28 bodies till now and several others are still missing.” Javalgi said 20 bodies were recovered from Mirik while six and two were retrieved from Kalimpong and Sukhiapokhri, respectively.

Earlier in the day, the Centre declared relief of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured, while the State Government announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who perished in the landslides.

Conveying his condolences to the family members of those who perished in the landslides Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Rs 2 lakh would be provided to each family from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also called up Mamata Banerjee and assured her of all central assistance in relief and rescue operations, sources said.

Many houses in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Mirik have almost vanished under the debris and connecting bridges between Siliguri and Darjeeling have collapsed. The connection between Siliguri and Sikkim was also snapped following landslides at various places in Kalimpong sub-division. The Rohin-Garidhura Bridge has collapsed and parts of NH 31 and 10 were blocked by huge stones and mud.

Sources said thousands of tourists were stuck at various places as earth moving machines were employed to clear blocked roads, most of which had almost vanished. In many places rivers in spate had inundated the Siliguri-Kalimpong and Siliguri-Gangtok highways.

More than 5,000 people were affected in the Terai region of Jalpaiguri district where Teesta and Torsha rivers were crossing danger marks. The miseries of the people increased when 5,000 cusecs of water was released from the Teesta barrage.