The Bengal government on Wednesday evacuated more than 6,500 people from different parts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts and shifted them to 39 shelter camps because of an abnormal rise in the water level of the Teesta following a cloudburst in Sikkim.

The government deployed four teams of the NDRF — two in Jalpaiguri and one each in Darjeeling and Siliguri — in addition to seven SDRF teams to prevent the loss of lives.

A source has said three bodies were found and they are yet to be identified. Besides, 14 persons have been reported to be missing from Sangsay gram panchayat in Kalimpong’s Lava block. Efforts are on to trace them, officials said.

Sources in Nabanna said the initial assessment was that around 2,000 tourists from Bengal were reported to be stranded in Sikkim. Senior Bengal government officials got in touch with the Sikkim government to ensure their safe stay and immediate evacuation. The government was also trying to contact the family members of the tourists to let them know about the existing situation in Sikkim.

“Efforts will be made to bring them back to the state once road connectivity is established with Sikkim,” said an official.

The chief minister held a series of meetings with top government officials from the early hours of Wednesday and instructed them to launch evacuation drives in vulnerable areas, mainly those along the Teesta.

“Deeply concerned on getting the news of 23 soldiers missing after a flash flood in Sikkim which followed a cloudburst in the region… Have already asked my Chief secretary to coordinate disaster management preparedness measures asap (as soon as possible). All steps have been taken to evacuate people in the districts of Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri to safer places,” Mamata Banerjee wrote in her X handle (formerly Twitter).

Sources in the state administration said the evacuation of people had started around 3am on Wednesday when the chief secretary of Sikkim had sent a message regarding the cloudburst and subsequent flash flood in the Teesta river.

“The possible disaster was immediately communicated to the chief minister. The chief minister directed the chief secretary to alert all DMs and SPs concerned and mobilise all departments to ensure the launch of quick rescue operations to avert loss of lives,” said an official.

Soon after the chief minister’s instruction came, the district authorities immediately started the evacuation and shifting of people from vulnerable areas in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and parts of Cooch Behar.

Also, a number of senior officials, including irrigation secretary, O.S. Meena and secretary of north Bengal development department A. R. Bardhan, rushed to the affected areas. A number of ministers, including Aroop Biswas, power minister, Partha Bhowmick, irrigation minister, were also asked to reach the affected areas.