Incessant rainfall in north Bengal and Sikkim since Thursday night has triggered fresh landslides in the Darjeeling hills, prompting the Kalimpong district administration to stop the movement of vehicles, barring emergency and official vehicles, along a major stretch of NH10.

The rainfall also led to the erosion of the banks of the Ganga in Malda.

The state government asked the administrations of all eight north Bengal districts to be prepared as there was a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall (70mm to 200mm) in most districts, especially in Alipurduar, from Sunday.

Kalimpong district magistrate Balasubramanian T. issued an order on Saturday, saying even light commercial vehicles would not be allowed to travel along a stretch of NH10 because of landslides.

“From August 4, only private, official and emergency light vehicles will be allowed to move through the stretch between Chitray and Seti Jhora on NH-10 from 6 am to 6 pm. Other vehicles from Sikkim and Kalimpong will have to take alternative routes to reach Siliguri and vice-versa,” said a source.

Due to the rainfall, trees got uprooted and damaged five houses in the Darjeeling civic area and in another location in Kurseong.

The downpour also swelled the Teesta. At the Coronation Bridge in Sevoke, the water levels of Teesta increased to 145 metres while the danger level is 150 metres.

Also, the Mahananda, which flows through Siliguri, swelled and touched the 112-metre mark, just three metres below the danger level.

“We are running round the clock control room to keep watch on the water levels of rivers. Based on the situation, the administrations are being alerted regularly,” said Krishnendu Bhowmik, the chief engineer (northeast) of the state irrigation department.

In Malda, the Ganga continued to erode land at Golap Mandal Para of Pardewnapur-Shobhapur panchayat under Kaliachak-III block on Saturday.

Chandana Sarkar, the TMC MLA of Baishnabnagar visited the village with the BDO and a team of the state irrigation department.

“We have shifted two more families to a relief camp. The irrigation department has taken up emergency protection works at the village,” said Nitin Singhania, the district magistrate of Malda.

On Saturday afternoon, senior officials of the state held a meeting in Nabanna. After the meeting, officials were alerted in the districts as there is a forecast of more rainfall from tomorrow.

Preeti Goyal, the district magistrate of Darjeeling, said they have also opened a control room at the district headquarters.

“ I have held a meeting with the chief medical officer of health, electricity, PWD and officials of the block administration. All are instructed to be alert We have also readied our quick response teams which would move out for assistance during any emergency,” she said.

Sources in the administration said the block officials and district headquarters have been asked to keep the stock of food grains ready while the power department has been instructed to rush to any spot where there is a disruption in power supply due to rainfall or other natural disasters.

R Vimla, the district magistrate in Alipurduar, said they have cancelled the leave of employees serving in different departments.

“We have identified schools which can be used as shelters for flood victims. The health, irrigation and power departments are asked to keep close vigil to the situation round the clock for quick response,” she said.

In Sikkim, the weather department has issued a similar alert. The state government has made necessary preparations to carry out relief and rescue works if needed, said
a source.