Rescue work on, Mamata visits affected areas

Rescue operations are in full swing in the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district, where multiple landslides on Wednesday claimed 38 lives, washed away highways and damaged homes.

A fresh landslide occurred at Gayabari, 56 km from Darjeeling, cutting off road link between Darjeeling and Mirik, which alone had accounted for 21 deaths in Wednesday's disaster, an official of West Bengal's Disaster Management Department said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited some of the worst-affected areas in Mirik. She met the families of the victims and handed over relief materials and cheques to them.

Banerjee reached the affected area taking a detour as the road was damaged by landslides. "Started early this morning by road to reach the spot which affected most by landslides (sic)," she tweeted.

The Chief Minister had on Wednesday announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased in landslides.

PM Narendra Modi had announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and <g data-gr-id="50" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">deputed</g> Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to rush to the area. A central team, headed by Rijiju, had visited the landslide-hit areas in Kurseong on Wednesday and took stock of the rescue and relief operations.

Rijiju visited relief camps in the Tingling area under Kurseong sub-division, where hundreds of people were rendered homeless after the disaster and met the injured in hospitals. "We will give assistance for immediate relief and also provide help for reconstruction," Rijiju said.

The Indian Army has deployed two medical and engineers task forces to carry out relief and rescue work in Darjeeling. Army teams – carrying relief equipment, including boats and life jackets – have been deployed since Wednesday in Jalpaiguri district, which has been inundated following incessant heavy rain and release of water from the Teesta barrage, a defence spokesperson said in Kolkata.

The teams were carrying out rescue and relief work at <g data-gr-id="39" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">Mainaguri</g>, Uttar Padmavati and Mal Bazaar areas.

Large parts of Jalpaiguri district have been submerged, following incessant heavy rains since Tuesday, affecting over 5,000 people. The administration has issued a red alert as the rivers are flowing above the danger level.

The National Disaster Response Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and the state government's disaster management force were engaged in relief and rescue work across the region.

The local Met department has forecast no respite from the inclement weather and has predicted incessant and heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours. "Widespread rain is likely in almost all places in Darjeeling in the next 48 hours (till Saturday morning). Heavy rain is expected in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar districts and the adjoining state of Sikkim," an official at the regional Met Office in Alipore said.

The toll is likely to go up as many people are trapped under the debris. The landslides have severely affected national highways 31 and 10, snapping road links with Sikkim and leading to many tourists getting stranded. Telecom and electricity services were badly affected, too.  

Landslides in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions have caused extensive damage to NH-10 and NH-55, cutting off vital road links to the region.