39 killed in Darjeeling landslides

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, July 1

At least 39 persons were killed and many went missing in a series of landslides triggered by heavy rain in three sub-divisions of Darjeeling. Officials in the West Bengal’s Disaster Management Department said 21 persons died in Mirik alone, where 13 others were reportedly missing. The remaining died in Kalimpong-1 and 2, Lava, Sukhia block and Gorubathan.

More than 100 people were reportedly stranded at different places in the district and troops had been called in to rescue them. Two NDRF teams, comprising nearly 100 personnel, had left for the affected areas.

The landslides at 25 places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions also caused extensive damage to NH-10 and NH-55, cutting off road link to the region. Many places in Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Dooars were reportedly flooded.

As Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was in Murshidabad district, she directed Home Secretary B Banerjee and Director General of Police TMK Reddy to reach the affected areas and supervise rescue operations. The CM also left for Siliguri after curtailing her official programme in Nadia and Bibhum. “I am monitoring the situation closely and will go there after the meeting in Murshidabad,” she tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to visit landslide-hit areas to take stock of the situation. “The PM has asked me to visit the affected areas of West Bengal. The situation is grim as many have died in the catastrophe. (I) Will assess the ground situation and maximum support will be provided. Our ground rescue forces are already carrying out rescue operations,” Rijiju said. He is expected to give a report to the PM on his return tomorrow.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also called up Mamata and assured her of all Central assistance, official sources said. (With PTI inputs)