The Sikkim government on Saturday announced that the toll in the wake of the October 4 flash flood in the Teesta had increased to 30.
It added that 81 people were still missing in Sikkim.
So far 48 bodies have been found in the Teesta in Bengal’s Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, which fall in the river’s downstream.
On Saturday, the Sikkim government posted pictures of 42 bodies found inJalpaiguri and CoochBehar. Later, administrative officials of both districts confirmed the recovery of six more bodies.
The Sikkim government stated that at least 13 bridges and 1,500 houses were damaged in the flash flood.
“In all, 30 relief camps are running across Sikkim for around 7,000 people,” said a source.
In Bengal’s Kalimpong district, around 1,500 peoplewere affected by the disaster and nearly 300 houses damaged in Geilkhola, Rambhi and Teesta Bazar.
Seven relief camps have been set up in the district.
Minister visits Sikkim
Ajay Kumar Mishra, the Union minister of state for home affairs, reached Gangtok on Saturday and met officials of the state government, defence forces, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.
Mishra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah were in constant touch with Sikkim chief minister P.S. Tamang.
“The minister said the Centre had constituted a committee of senior officials from the central ministries of agriculture, road transport and highways, Jal Shakti, energy and finance. It will visit Sikkim from Sunday,” a source said.
Tamang reached Naga in Mangan district on Saturday and also inspected the site of the Sankalang bridge swept away by the Teesta.
Tamang said a Bailey bridge would be set up to resume connectivity between Mangan and Dzongu.
In Kalimpong, a team headed by Bengal power minister Aroop Biswas and comprising north Bengal development minister Udayan Guha, Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb and his deputy Ranjan Sarkar inspected Teesta Bazar and spoke to residents.
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief Anit Thapa also visited the site earlier in the day and promised to focus on rehabilitation.
In Sikkim, a fresh government advisory asked people not to pick up ammunition and explosives which the Teesta had swept away from defence installations.
