Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced financial assistance and initiatives for residents of Kalimpong affected by the devastating flash flood in the Teesta on October 4, and also took a holistic approach to address a slew of issues related to north Bengal.

Fourteen residents of Kalimpong, she said, died in the disaster.

“I announce a compensation of Rs 3 lakh for the bereaved families who have lost their near and dear ones in the recent flash flood,” said Mamata, who on Thursday also inaugurated online Durga Puja pandals across various districts.

Because of the flash flood, ammunition and explosives of the Indian army were swept away from Sikkim and found in Bengal's Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts which are downstream of the Teesta.

Villagers on both banks picked up mortar shells from the river, thinking they could sell them.

In Kranti block, a person tried to prise open a shell. It exploded, killing his son and injuring him and several others.

On Thursday, Mamata announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for each of the injured and Rs 2 lakh for the boy’s family.

Cabinet meeting

Earlier in the day, the chief minister held a meeting of the state cabinet at her Calcutta residence.

“At the meeting, it was decided that a four-member team of ministers (comprising Golam Rabbani, Srikant Mahato, Sabina Yeasmin and Satyajit Barman) will reach Kalimpong on October 17. They will camp there for three days and interact with people.... I will also visit the district during their trip. The state government will take appropriate steps to address their problems,” Udayan Guha, the north Bengal development minister, said after the meeting.

State education minister Bratya Basu also announced an important decision made at the meeting.

“North Bengal has 198 Rajbanshi-medium schools (which the state recognised earlier). It has been decided to recruit 394 para-teachers and 385 non-teaching staff in these schools,” said Basu.

Most of the schools are in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts.

“At a time the Centre is silent on the demand that the language should be recognised, this decision will surely help Trinamul gain support in Rajbanshi-dominated belts,” said a political observer.

He said the state’s announcement of compensation and other initiatives to reach out to Kalimpong's flood-hit would have a political impact. “After the disaster, the Centre did not sanction funds for Kalimpong, unlike in Sikkim. Also, no delegation from the Centre reached these areas (in Bengal), whereas an inter-ministerial team visited Sikkim. The Bengal government, on the other hand, is helping these people (in Kalimpong),” the observer said.

At the cabinet meeting, the state decided to form the new Dhupguri subdivision in Jalpaiguri. Ahead of Dhupguri bypoll last month, Trinamul’s general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said the state would agree to the longstanding demand of Dhupguri residents.

After the bypoll, Mamata said she would take up the issue after her UAE-Spain trip.

“Today (Thursday), the proposal was passed in the cabinet meeting. The new subdivision will be formed with Dhupguri and Banarhat blocks and the Dhupguri municipal area. All necessary steps (for it) will be taken soon,” Mamata said.