The Bengal government has decided to rehabilitate over 550 families who became homeless in Kalimpong district because of the devastating flash flood in the Teesta on October 4.

The government, sources said, will soon start a survey to identify patches of land where those families can be rehabilitated.

A four-member team of Bengal ministers reached Kalimpong on Tuesday to assess the damage caused by the flood. They have been camping in the hill district and holding talks with representatives of the district administration and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, and other persons concerned.

The ministers, Golam Rabbani, Sabina Yeasmin, Srikant Mahato and Satyajit Barman, visited a number of places in Kalimpong like Teesta Bazar, Rangpo, Tarkhola and Gailkhola.

“According to the instructions of chief minister Mamata Banerjee on October 12, we reached Kalimpong yesterday (Tuesday). Today (Wednesday), we visited the affected locations and some sites where land is available. We need land to rehabilitate the affected people. For this, a survey will be conducted jointly by the district administration, the land and land reforms department and the forest department,” said Rabbani, who is the minister for minority affairs and madarsa education.

During their visit, the ministers spoke to forest minister Jyotipriya Mallick over the phone to explore the possibility of utilising the land available with the forest department for the rehabilitation.

“The minister has assured us of all help and if required, his department will provide land for these homeless people,” added Rabbani.

Sources in the district administration said around 553 houses were affected by the disaster.

“Out of these, 155 houses in the Rangpo and the Teesta Bazar areas were completely damaged and 855 persons became homeless. They are staying in relief camps now,” said a source.

After their visit, the team of ministers will submit a report to Mamata.

“The river has caused extensive damage in some areas. We saw places where the river has left silt deposits as high as 20 feet. The repairs and restoration work have started. The government is at the same time providing land to homeless people,” said Yeasmin, the minister of state for irrigation and waterways and north Bengal development.

She criticised the Centre for not providing funds for Kalimpong, unlike the neighbouring Sikkim.

“We are putting all efforts to restore the connectivity along NH10 (the principal highway that connects Sikkim and Kalimpong with the rest of the country). Surprisingly, the central government is sitting silent and has not allotted a penny for the affected people and the area,” said Yeasmin.