At least 38 people have been killed in a series of landslides caused by heavy rainfall in three sub-divisions of the Darjeeling district since Tuesday night.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a compensation of Rs four lakh each to the families of the deceased in landslides in Darjeeling Hills. Prime Minister Modi also announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh each to the families.
Twenty-one deaths occurred in Mirik alone, while another 13 people have been reported missing, officials in West Bengal’s Disaster Management Department said.
The remaining 17 deaths occurred in Kalimpong districts of Lava, Sukhia block and Gorubathan.
The landslides in 25 places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong subdivisions also caused extensive damage to NH-10 and NH-55, cutting off road link to the region.
Twenty persons were also injured in the calamity and 15 people were reported missing at 8 Mile and 11 Mile areas in Kalimpong, SSB officials said.
Two NDRF teams, comprising around 100 personnel, have been dispatched for rescue operations in areas of Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling sub-divisions of the district.
However people on the ground are complaining of little help in rescue efforts from the Bengal or Central Governments so far. With roads wiped out, locals are continuing rescue efforts on their own, forced to walk 25-30 kilometers with the injured before night fall.
NH 10 has borne the brunt with the road link to Sikkim, Kalimpong, Lava, Lolegaon and Garubathan snapped.
NH 55 connecting Siliguri, Matigara with Darjeeling was also damaged – particularly in Mirik and Rohini areas. A bridge on NH 55 has been washed away at Nimbujhora.
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