Over 20 killed, several missing as landslides, rains devastate Hills

'Monitoring of the situation is being carried out round-the-clock'

- AMITAVA BANERJEE

Incessant rains throughout Saturday triggered landslides, causing widespread devastation in Kalimpong district and Darjeeling hills, leaving more than 20 persons dead and many missing. Mirik subdivision is the worst affected. Road connectivity has been disrupted throughout the Hills, including National Highway 10 and NH 110 (earlier NH55). The devastation was a rerun of the Teesta flash floods that wreaked havoc on October 4, 2023 in the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

While Darjeeling recorded 261mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours (recorded at 8:30 am on Sunday), Kalimpong recorded 166.4mm as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, taking to X, expressed concern and said that she would arrive in Siliguri on Monday to assess the situation and to oversee the search, rescue and rehabilitation operations.

"The state government is taking every possible step to normalise the situation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been monitoring the situation from Kolkata since Saturday. She has held several rounds of virtual meetings with the district administration and police. From Monday, she will monitor the situation from Uttarkanya, the mini secretariat in Siliguri. She is scheduled to arrive here on Monday," stated Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb while addressing a Press conference at the Jalpaiguri Circuit House.

The GTA Disaster Management Team, along with SDRF and NDRF units, have reached the affected sites and are actively carrying out rescue and relief operations.

"The President, Prime Minister and Union Home minister have also taken note of the situation in Darjeeling.