40 dead in Darjeeling landslide
Overnight rain triggered landslides killing at least 40 people, and nine others were reported missing in the Darjeeling hills (India) of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on 1st July 2015. More people are feared trapped in the mounds mud and debris
Both national highways 31 and 10, ripping the road link to Sikkim, as both electricity and telecom services were wrecked severely.
Banerjee said that of the 30 bodies recovered, 22 were from Mirik, six from Kalimpong and one each from Sukhiapokhri and Gorubathan areas of Darjeeling district.
‘Nine people still missing. Rescue operations will resume early on Thursday morning,’ said Banerjee. According the district administration, over 20 people were hospitalised with various injuries.
The toll is likely to go up with many people feared trapped beneath the debris.
‘The administration is working round the clock to complete all procedures to hand over bodies of the victims to their families for their last rites, for which assistance is being provided by the local administration,’ she said.
According to the SSB, the string of landslides which wreaked havoc in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions began in the early hours of Wednesday.
In Jalpaiguri district, at least 5,000 people were affected by water-logging and their misery was compounded by the release of over 5,000 cusecs of water from the Teesta barrage.
‘Vast areas in Jalpaiguri have been inundated due to sudden rise in the water levels in all major rivers. More than 2,000 people have been rescued and taken to safe places.
The Jalpaiguri district administration has issued a red alert as the Teesta and Torsa rivers touched danger levels.