After nearly 12 hours of relentless rainfall devastated large parts of North Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced a series of relief measures for the victims, including ₹5 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and a special home guard job for one member of each affected family.
At least 28 people have died in the floods and landslides that struck the region, destroying houses, bridges, and roads across Mirik, Kalimpong and Nagrakata. Addressing reporters at Kolkata airport before leaving for North Bengal to assess the situation, the Chief Minister alleged that the disaster was partly “man-made.”
“The North Bengal floods are man-made. The DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation) has deliberately released water and caused this flood. If proper dredging had been done, this would not have happened,” Mamata said.
The Chief Minister stated that she has been monitoring the situation since Saturday and added that water entering from Bhutan and Assam has worsened the flooding. “The areas most affected by the Bhutanese water are Nagrakata and Mirik,” she said, adding, “We have arranged 45 Volvo buses to bring back those stranded. It is our responsibility to ensure their safe return.”
After reviewing the crisis from Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Sunday, Mamata deputed state minister Arup Biswas to Dhupguri. On Monday, she will visit Hasimara and Nagrakata, followed by Mirik on Tuesday— the worst-hit area in the Darjeeling hills. “I will go as far as possible to see the damage myself and speak directly to the affected people,” she said. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant is accompanying her.
The Chief Minister assured that relief and rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing. She has directed all departments to restore roads, communication systems and power supply as quickly as possible.
Mamata also called the flood a “natural as well as man-made disaster.” She said, “Where will all this water go? Around 300 mm of rain fell in just 12 hours. We already bear the inflow of water from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand—But how much more can we handle?”
Emphasising the safety of tourists, Mamata said that the administration has already sent 45 Volvo buses and several state transport buses to rescue stranded visitors. “Arrangements have been made to house around 250 people in Siliguri. Hotels have been instructed not to overcharge those stranded. Many have lost their documents and money—we must be humane,” she added.
Community kitchens have also been opened in Mirik and Nagrakata to ensure food for displaced residents.
As the Chief Minister travels to the disaster zone with senior officials, the administration continues its relief, rehabilitation, and rescue operations across the ravaged districts of North Bengal.
Also read: North Bengal floods: Toll rises to 28, wildlife, tourism hit hard
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