DARJEELING: The toll in the landslides in Darjeeling district climbed to 38 on Thursday with fresh mishaps being reported from Gayabari, 56 km from Darjeeling. The road link between Darjeeling and Mirik has been cut off. The slips were caused by heavy rain in the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district since Tuesday last. Over a dozen people were reported missing.
Twenty-one deaths were in Mirik and 17 died in Kalimpong. The landslides occurred at 25 places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions. NH-10 and NH-55 have been badly damaged. The region has
since been cut off from the mainland, according to official sources engaged in rescue and reconstruction operations.
While the Sashastra Seema Bal personnel were carrying out rescue operations, the Border Roads Organisation men were clearing the roads. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has visited the devastated areas. The
Bengal Government also sought help from the army.
The roads linking Kalimpong, Lolegaon, Garubathan, Siliguri, Matigara are damaged. Landslides between Mongpong and Sevoke Kalibari left people stranded on NH 31.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 2 Lakh compensation to the kin of those killed in the landslides. The Chief Minister
has also announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the dead. A Central team, headed by Minister Rijiju, has visited the affected areas
in Kurseong.
