Army's help has also been sought for stepped up rescue and relief efforts, North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb said.
Heavy overnight rain triggered a string of landslides in the mountainous Darjeeling district of West Bengal, killing at least 38 people, swamping homes, washing away highways and throwing normal life out of gear in the region famed for aromatic tea. Both the centre and the state announced help for the kin of the dead. While state government announced a compensation package of four lakhs, centre pledged to give two lakhs to the families of the deceased.
Army's help has also been sought for stepped up rescue and relief efforts, North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb said. Torrential rain battered three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district, claiming 21 lives in Mirik alone where 13 people were also reported missing, sources in the Disaster Management Department said on Wednesday.
17 others died in Kalimpong-1 and 2, lava, Sukhia block and Gorubathan, sources said. Twenty persons were reported injured and 15 missing at 8 Mile and 11 Mile areas in Kalimpong, sources in the border guarding force Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), who have joined in the rescue and relief efforts, said.
Landslides in 25 places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions caused extensive damage to NH-10 and NH-55, cutting off vital road links to the region. Massive mounds of loosened earth came hurtling down the slopes, swamping houses on hillsides. Videos showed homes perched on slopes caving in before crashing into the ravines in a heap.
Picture of destruction (AFP)
In several places, rescuers were seen using bare hands to remove piles of debris looking for survivors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed pain over the loss of lives and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased. "Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to the landslides in Darjeeling district. Condolences to the families of the deceased," he tweeted. "A compensation of Rs. 2 lakh from the PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) would be provided to the families of the deceased," he added.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced a compensation of Rs four lakh each to the families of the deceased in landslides in Darjeeling Hills. Banerjee said in a facebook post that 30 lives were lost and eight persons were missing in the disaster.
"As reported till now, 30 precious lives have been lost and 8 persons are missing. I have been monitoring the situation very closely since this morning and providing with all necessary assistance from the administration to the affected areas," she said.
About cancellation of her Thursday's original schedule Banerjee said, "After cancelling tomorrow's administrative meeting at Birbhum, I am now on my way from Murshidabad to Darjeeling, so that I can be amidst the affected people at their hour of grief." "The unfortunate landslides due to heavy rains in Darjeeling Hills have caused havoc," she added.
The CM also referred to the flood situation in Jalpaiguri district which got inundated due to sudden rise in water level in all major rivers. "Many people got affected. More than 2,000 people have been rescued to safe place," she said
People were seen stranded on the edges of roads after mountains of wet earth and water came down rolling, tearing away large portions. NH 10 (old NH 55A) bore the brunt, with the vital road link to 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 was washed away at Nimbujhora, the sources said.
Landslides occurred at several places between Mongpong and Sevoke Kalibari, leaving people stranded on NH 31.
A central team, headed by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, today visited landslide-hit areas in Darjeeling district. Rijiju, who arrived here this evening following a directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited relief camps in Tingling area under Kurseong sub-division where hundreds of people were rendered homeless after the disaster.
"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 told PTI tonight.
Rijiju, along with Darjeeling MP S S Ahluwalia and officials of Home Ministry and NDRF, visited hospitals and met hundreds of injured people. Immediate relief are 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. On Thursday the team will visit Kalimpong areas.
"All efforts are being made for rescue and relief operation by combine efforts of the state and central governments," he said. At least 38 people have been killed in a series of landslides triggered by heavy rains in the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district since last night.
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