The death toll from one of the worst landslides in a decade in the hills of Darjeeling climbed to 23 on Monday after incessant rainfall since Saturday night. With rainfall significantly subsiding on Monday, with clear sky – both in the Hills and across the plains, including the Dooars – relief and rescue work gathered pace. The reduction in rainfall, with some areas reporting no rain since Sunday afternoon, led to a considerable drop in the water levels of swollen rivers like the Teesta, Torsa, and Jaldhaka, which had crossed the danger mark. However, officials remain wary of a potential resurgence of rain in the Bhutan hills that could trigger another spike in water level in the rivers and potential another flash flood-like situation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor CV Ananda Bose reached North Bengal separately. The chief minister, who reached Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district to meet the flood-hit people, announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the floods and landslides, besides offering a job of home guard to one member of the bereaved families. She distributed compensation cheques to the victims' family members after reaching relief camps in Jalpaiguri. Governor Bose visited the flood-ravaged areas of Mirik in the Darjeeling hills. The Governor said that after examining the region, he would send a report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “This is not the time to blame others. I have come to talk and meet the affected people. I have come to talk and meet the affected people. I will personally investigate everything and send a report to the Home Minister,” said Governor Bose after reaching Bagdogra airport. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista was in Mirik overseeing camps and distributing relief materials. With over 300 mm of rain in 12 hours, the landslides ravaged Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong districts, leaving thousands of tourists stranded, hundreds homeless as several hill slopes caved in. Rescue teams struggled to clear over 40 landslide points, as swollen rivers and broken bridges cut off remote settlements. North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha said the toll was likely to rise further as rescue operations continued. The torrential rains caused widespread devastation in the plains and the Dooars region, where several bridges collapsed under the force of the water flow. The wooden bridge over the John Halong River leading to the Jaldapara Tourist Lodge was washed away. This collapse initially trapped approximately 25 tourists in the guesthouse. All stranded tourists were successfully rescued on Monday morning, ferried across the Halong River using an earth mover, officials said. However, keeping the current condition in mind, entry to tourists in the Jaldapara National Park has been temporarily closed for a few days. Most of Cooch Behar, which was waterlogged on Sunday, is now clear, with public life returning to normal. Only the Kaljani river remains flooded as of Monday, albeit less severely than the previous day. However, a critical rescue operation was underway at Sitai Vidhan Sabha, where 13-14 people remain stranded in Singimari Char. They were cut off while farming near Singimari river on Sunday. The situation is reported to be completely normal in Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur districts, with no rain recorded in the last 24 hours. Malda, too, has experienced no rain, and the situation is normal there as well, bringing relief to the administration and residents across the region. In a relief, the has forecast reduction in rainfall in the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that scattered light to moderate rain may occur over the region till October 12. It said that thunderstorm and gusty wind with speed reaching 30 to 40 kmph and lightning are very likely to occur at one or two places over Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur districts of north Bengal till Tuesday morning. There is no forecast of heavy rain in any of the north Bengal districts.
