July 1, 2015
WB CM announces compensation for the people affected by landslide in Darjeeling
West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee announced compensation of Rs Rs 4 lakhs to be given to the family of those deceased due to the landslide disaster in the Hills. A compensation of Rs 1.25 lakh will also be given to those who are injured due to the landslide, she announced before leaving for north Bengal.
The West Bengal Chief Minister cut short her programmes in the district of Murshidabad and will visit to north Bengal after rain and landslides in Mirik and Kalimpong areas in the Darjeeling district killed around than 30 people.
She has also cancelled her programme in the Birbhum district, which was scheduled for tomorrow. She will reach north Bengal today evening and will visit Mirik tomorrow.
Under the instructions of the Chief Minister, the State Home Secretary is already in north Bengal and at the locations.
The Chief Minister has urged the tourists in the Hills not to panic and has informed that the State Government will take measures to bring them down to the plains.
The West Bengal Chief Minister said that she was monitoring the situation and will rush to north Bengal after her scheduled programmes in Murshidabad.
The people have been killed in landslides triggered by heavy rains in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions of Darjeeling district since last night. The landslides have caused extensive damage to NH 10 (old NH 55A) and NH 55, cutting off road and telecommunication link to Darjeeling and Sikkim.
The State Irrigation & Waterways Dept has opened control room for north and south Bengal to tackle possible flood situations.
Control Room no for north Bengal: 18003450117
Control Room no for south Bengal: 18003453255
The West Bengal Chief Minister on Facebook said:
” The unfortunate landslides due to heavy rains in Darjeeling Hills have caused havoc.
As reported till now, 30 precious lives have been lost and 8 persons are missing. I have been monitoring the situation very closely since this morning and providing all necessary assistance from the administration to the affected areas.
After cancelling tomorrow’s administrative meeting at Birbhum, I am now on my way from Murshidabad to Darjeeling, so that I can be amidst the affected people at their hour of grief.
We have announced rupees 4 lakh compensation for each of the families of those who have passed away. 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.
Also at the plains, vast areas in Jalpaiguri District have been inundated due to sudden rise in water level in all major rivers and many people got affected. More than two thousand people have been rescued to safe place.”
