The downpour that commenced on Tuesday night in north Bengal and Sikkim continued throughout the day on Thursday, triggering fresh landslides which blocked roads in the hills, including the lifeline National Highway 10.

A landslide occurred near Melli on NH10 around 7am halting traffic along a stretch of the highway. The Bengal PWD used earthmovers and the road was cleared by noon.

In Darjeeling, a landslide occurred at the Lebong Cart Road — a prominent thoroughfare of the hill town — near Singmari. It affected traffic till noon when the roadwas cleared.

The downpour, sources said, led to landslides in 22 villages and damaged 12 houses in different locations. Landslides also occurred in Lower Dumaram, Upper Nayabusty and Tekbirbusty, all under Kurseong Municipality.

Water levels of the Mahananda which flows through Siliguri, almost touched the danger level on Thursday morning. Its level was recorded at 113 metres while the danger level is 115 metres. The Teesta, sources said, also reached close to the danger level at the Coronation Bridge in Sevoke. The river was flowing at a height of 142 metres, just eight metres below the danger mark.

With around a fortnight left for Durga Puja, the continuous rainfall has left puja organisers of the region worried.

“We have barely two weeks left. The rainfall is making it difficult to build the pandals. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” said Subhashis Chakraborty, associated with a prominent puja in Siliguri.

Malda floods

The flood situation in Bhutni islet in the Manikchak block of Malda district continued to persist on Thursday as the swollen Ganga continued to inundate fresh areas.

Two more persons drowned in the floodwaters in the islet on Thursday afternoon. They are yet to be traced. Two minor boys in Bhutni died on Wednesday after they fell into the river.

Administrative and police sources said brothers Parimal Mandal, 21, and Bankim Mandal, 18, residents of Shankartola village of the islet, went to an inundated jute field on a tin-made boat.

The boat capsized while they were returning to the village and the duo went missing. “We are still searching for them. Till evening, the duo could not be traced,” said an official of the district disaster management department.

The flood that has occurred because of the increased water levels of the Ganga in the upper catchments has left around one-and-a-half lakh people amid inconvenience.

The administration is providing relief and has shifted some families to safer places. Boats have been deployed in the islet for emergency evacuation of people if the situation deteriorates.

On Thursday, Sabina Yeasmin, the minister of state for irrigation and waterways, and Onkar Singh Meena, the principal secretary of the state agriculture department, took stock of the situation at Bhutni. Local MLA Sabitri Mitra, Nitin Singhania, the district magistrate and others accompanied them.

The delegation inspected the inundated areas and also visited the flood-shelters where thousands of residents of the inundated areas have been shifted.

Meena asked the district administrative officials to arrange for clothing along with food materials.

They also inquired about the health condition of the lactating mothers being accommodated at the flood centres.

“The administration is providing help to residents of the inundated areas as per the directives of the state government. We are consistently monitoring the situation,” said Meena.