West Bengal: 17 killed in rain-related incidents in Darjeeling, Kalimpong

At least 17 persons have been killed in rain-related incidents in Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts since early Sunday morning, M Modak, the executive director of the Disaster Management Department in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, told Scroll.

Several persons were also missing amid several landslides in the Darjeeling hills, PTI reported.

Darjeeling Sub-Divisional Officer Richard Lepcha told the news agency that rescue and relief operations were underway in the affected areas.

In the Darjeeling district, deaths were reported from Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon (Mechi) and the Mirik Lake area, PTI quoted unidentified officials as saying. Four persons were rescued from under the debris in Dhar Gaon.

The National Disaster Response Force had joined the rescue operations in the Mirik Lake area.

Traffic movement on several key routes, including from Darjeeling to Siliguri, was disrupted due to the landslides and communication lines to several hilltop settlements were also snapped.

An iron bridge over the Balason River at Dudhia, connecting Siliguri and Mirik, also collapsed due to the heavy rainfall in the region, the Hindustan Times reported.

The rising waters in the Teesta river have cut off access to Sikkim and Kalimpong, according to The Indian Express.

#WATCH | Kalimpong, West Bengal | NH 10 from Siliguri to Sikkim is completely closed due to an increase in the water level of the Teesta...

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