Kolkata: Fresh landslides on Thursday further delayed relief and rescue operations in various parts of West Bengal, where rain-triggered earth movements had claimed at least 40 lives a day earlier.
“The continuing rains and new landslides are affecting relief and rescue operations severely as teams are unable to reach the areas that have been cut off due to severe road damage,” an officer of the state disaster management team said.
A fresh landslip was reported on Thursday at Gayabari, 56km from Darjeeling, cutting off the road link to Mirik.
The Meteorological department has issued fresh warnings that the hilly region will continue to witness “widespread and heavy” downpours in the next 48 hours.
“Widespread rain is likely in almost all places in Darjeeling in the next 48 hours. Heavy rain is expected in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar districts and the adjoining state of Sikkim,” said an official of the meteorological department in Kolkata.
Adding to the woes, the heavy rainfall has inundated Jalpaiguri district as the Teesta river has overflowed affecting thousands of people.
“The Teesta is overflowing and already 2,000 people have been moved to higher ground. More people are expected to be shifted as the rains continue unabated,” said Anurag Srivastava district magistrate Darjeeling.
Utilities like water, electricity and telecom services have been severely affected as residents’ fear of break out of diseases like cholera and jaundice.
“In many places, the water lines have snapped and it is getting contaminated. The state government is working on a war footing to set those right but people should boil water before drinking,” said a health officer of the district.
National highways 31 and 10 have been severely damaged snapping crucial road links with Sikkim and leading to many tourists being stranded.
“Hundreds of tourists are stranded in Sikkim as the roads are closed. Also, inclement weather has ensured that flights cannot land,” said an officer of the district administration.
The central government, which announced compensation for the affected families, has rushed in two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal and the Indian Army along with state officials were engaged in relief and rescue operations.
However officials fear the death toll could further rise.
“Thousands of homes have been swept away and we believe the death toll could rise further as we are unable to reach the affected areas,” said an officer of the NDRF.
