Efforts intensify across hills and plains to rebuild lives after devastation

As the mist-laden hills of Darjeeling slowly recover from the scars left by the devastating landslides of 4 October, efforts toward rebuilding lives and restoring hope have begun across the region.

- MANAS R BANNERJEE

From Bijanbari to Mirik, from Kalchini to Nagrakata, officials, public representatives, and community members are working together to bring relief and reassurance to those left homeless by the disaster.

Darjeeling district magistrate Preeti Goyal visited the worst-hit areas of Bijanbari, Pulbazar, Thaneline, and adjoining villages on Friday, accompanied by SDO Richard Lepcha. They distributed food items as relief with support from GTA Sabhasad Bikash Adhikari and local Panchayat members. Ms. Goyal assured that reconstruction and rehabilitation works will begin shortly. She said senior PWD engineers have already inspected the damaged Pulbazar bridge, and restoration of the road to Thaneline is underway. "Relief distribution will continue until normalcy returns. The reconstruction of the damaged bridge and rehabilitation of affected families will soon begin," she said.

Meanwhile, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has launched a land identification drive to rehabilitate families rendered homeless by the landslides in Tharbu, Soureni, Fuwagadhi, and nearby tea garden areas of Mirik. GTA chief executive Anit Thapa has assured that houses will be built once tea gardens formally provide land. On Friday, GTA chief's representative Diwas Chhetri, member Arun Sigchi, and others met tea garden managers who agreed in principle to allocate land after administrative formalities are completed. Mr Chhetri added that a complete list of affected families is being prepared, and house construction will begin once land measurements are done.