Darjeeling (West Bengal) [India], October 5 : National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said on Sunday that it has deployed three teams at the disaster-hit Mirik area in Darjeeling subdivision of West Bengal, where torrential rains have unleashed widespread devastation and killed seven people.
NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi told ANI that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed its three teams from Darjeeling, Siliguri and Alipurduar areas at the disaster-hit Mirik area in Darjeeling subdivision of West Bengal, where "torrential rains have unleashed widespread devastation", triggering "massive landslips that killed at least seven people" and "cut off several villages" in the region.
Two more teams- one each from Malda and Kolkata- are being moved. The NDRF teams are engaged in rescue operations, DIG Shahedi added.
Heavy rainfall in North Bengal has triggered landslides and severe waterlogging, leading to extensive damage, road blockages, and loss of lives in several districts, including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri.According to Abhishek Roy, Additional SP Kurseong, seven bodies have been recovered from the debris, with two more people still missing.The landslide occurred at Dilaram on the Kurseong road, blocking the route to Darjeeling. Other roads, including Rohini Road, have also been affected, while Tindharia Road remains operational.
Speaking on the situation, Abhishek Roy, Additional SP, Kurseong, Darjeeling district police, said, "7 dead bodies have already been recovered from the debris. We have information about two more people. Work is being done to recover their bodies too. A landslide occurred at Dilaram on the Kurseong road, which leads to Darjeeling. That road is blocked... Rohini Road is also blocked due to a landslide at Gourishankar... The condition of Pankhabari Road is extremely poor... Tindharia road is functioning right now. We are trying to evacuate all the tourists in Mirik in three to four hours through Tindharia..."
The police and local authorities are working to evacuate tourists from Mirik through Tindharia Road within the next three to four hours. A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been dispatched to assist in rescue operations.
Movement of vehicles has been restricted on the Siliguri-Darjeeling SH-12 road after a portion of the Dudhia iron bridge collapsed due to incessant rainfall in the region.In Jalpaiguri district, excessive waterlogging has been reported in Porajhar, Rajganj block, where heavy rainfall has inundated several houses and farmlands.
Many people were forced to leave their homes after a portion of the embankment on the River Mahananda suddenly collapsed, officials said.