Massive damages occur due to landslides in Darjeeling, Kalimpong

Officials said that over 400 landslides have occurred in Darjeeling and Kalimpong within just four hours.

Massive landslides have struck Darjeeling and Kalimpong, causing severe damage within just four hours, officials said. It is reported that at least 546 houses, 10 bridges, and 57 water supply lines were fully damaged in Darjeeling alone, while 21 houses were damaged in Kalimpong.

Darjeeling and Kalimpong see enormous landslides.

Between Saturday night and Sunday early morning, in a span of just around four hours, more than 400 landslides triggered by heavy rainfall hit Darjeeling and Kalimpong in north Bengal. This led to the killing of 24 people and injuring several others, said officials. However, the situation hasn’t worsened in the last 24 hours, as no fresh spells of heavy rain in the hills or foothills have been reported since Sunday morning.

Disaster management teams in action.

Preliminary estimates shared by officials of the disaster management department have revealed that at least 546 houses, 10 bridges, and 57 water supply lines were fully damaged in Darjeeling alone. The district has registered around 406 landslides between Saturday night and Sunday early morning. In Kalimpong, another 21 houses were destroyed due to landslides. An official said, “We are still collecting data and reports of the devastation are still pouring in. More than 400 landslides have been reported. Communication lines have been hit as a result of which reports are taking time to pour in. There have been no reports of any fresh deaths or devastation. The death toll stands at 24 as of now.”

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is also expected to visit flood-hit areas of north Bengal later in the day. A police officer said, “Banerjee is likely to visit Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts. She will return to Siliguri in the evening and stay in a government guest house in Jalpaiguri.”