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Massive landslide kills at least five people in Siliguri

     Siliguri (West Bengal): At least five people were killed in West Bengal ’s Siliguri district in a massive landslide, which was triggered by incessant overnight rains, officials said on Sunday. “Last night, it rained heavily in Kerseong sub-division and due to this there were heavy landslides and five people have even lost their lives,” said Dibendu Das, Sub-Divisional Officer of Kurseong. The landslide also blocked the National Highway No.55 leading to Darjeeling , as huge boulders rolled down the hill slopes, cutting off the road and a rail track of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, a world heritage site. “This big rock which you are seeing has blocked the road and the rail route,” said Madan Chettri, a resident of neighbouring Pagla Jhora village. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has begun rescue work and has deployed heavy machinery and bulldozers to clear off the derbies. According to officials, normalcy is expected to be restored after 10 days.
-August 16, 2009

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