Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said a team led by irrigation minister Partha Bhowmik would visit north Bengal from Monday to assess the damage caused by incessant rain, landslides and swollen rivers in the region in the past few days.
The team will have the secretaries of irrigation, disaster management and agriculture departments.
“North Bengal districts have received heavy rainfall, rivers have swollen, roads have been disrupted, properties have been damaged, people have been marooned. DMs and SPs are doing relief and rescue works on war footing with help of NDRF and SDRF. I have been monitoring personally and instructed my CS to supervise the field situation round the clock. No stone will be left unturned (sic),” Mamata said in a tweet.
The southwest monsoon is active in the sub-Himalayan region and there was torrential rain in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar.
Heavy rainfall has been reported from Sikkim and Bhutan, which has led to a surge in the water levels of a number of rivers that flow to Bengal. The rivers have caused flash floods, inundating many areas on their banks.
Tea estates, agricultural fields and houses were submerged in the Dooars which cover Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.
Workers’ quarters and tea bushes went under water on the Mechpara tea estate in Alipurduar district. The administration had to call the army to rescue around 70 residents who were stuck at homes.
Although it rained less since Saturday and water has receded from most areas, there is a forecast of more rainfall in north Bengal in the next three-four days.
“That is why the team’s visit is important. The team members can assess the situation on the ground and simultaneously make preparations for another flood-like situation,” said a senior state government official.
According to the data available with the regional Met office in Calcutta, it rained around 44 per cent more in Cooch Behar district from June 1 to July 16. Jalpaiguri district recorded a rainfall of around 24 per cent more than the average. It rained nine percent more in Darjeeling district.
The downpour affected a number of areas in Siliguri and elsewhere in Darjeeling district also.
In Siliguri, there was water-logging in a number of municipal wards and several roads and culverts were damged.
“Our team of engineers and civic employees are assessing the damage. We have sanctioned Rs 5 crore for restoration work,” deputy mayor Ranjan Sarkar said.
Sources in the Darjeeling district disaster management office said there was widespread damage in Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Mirik towns and in Rangli-Rangliot, Mirik and Kurseong blocks.
“The rain, which triggers landslides, damaged at least 40 houses in the hills in the past couple of days. A road at Chumta near Sukna (located on the outskirts of Siliguri) was damaged. The residents of Matigara and Phansidewa blocks faced waterlogging,” said a source.
The Balason and the Rakti rivers which flow through the Siliguri subdivision have eroded chunks of land and damaged embankments at Tripalijote and Fulbaribusty in Matigara block.
On Monday, Bhowmik, along with his team, will reach Siliguri. They will hold a meeting and head for Alipurduar.
“We will submit all necessary details at the meeting. In Alipurduar district, the team might visit some of the affected areas,” said an administrative official.
The rainfall had triggered several landslides and destroyed portions of NH10, the principal highway connecting Sikkim with the rest of India. However, workers were pressed into service and the stretches were cleared fast.
