Union Minister Rijiju visits Darjeeling flood zones, urges stronger relief

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju visited flood and landslide-affected areas in Darjeeling on Wednesday, assessing the damage and interacting with residents. He was accompanied by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista.

Rijiju urged the West Bengal government to “step up” relief measures, emphasizing the need to map the disaster and ensure rehabilitation for those who lost homes and livelihoods. “The impact of the rains in Darjeeling has been huge, with immense loss of life and property. Local administration and representatives are doing their best, but the state government must intensify its relief efforts,” he said.

BJP MLA Neeraj Zimba described the situation as being in “doldrums ,”(state of stagnation, trouble, or severe difficulty) criticizing the state government for not declaring an emergency. “Darjeeling is often treated merely as a tourist spot. While the lost lives cannot be restored, those who survived need proper rehabilitation. We will help, but the responsibility lies with the state government,” Zimba added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed that 27 people, including one Nepali and one Bhutanese national, have died due to heavy rains and landslides in North West Bengal. She visited the Dudhia bridge collapse site in Mirik on Tuesday and highlighted the extensive damage to infrastructure. “The disaster involved flash floods and landslides. All departments are working hard on rescue operations. Restoration is underway in Nagrakata and Mirik. It will take time, but we will revive the affected areas,” she said.

District authorities reported at least 18 deaths in Darjeeling due to incessant rains over the weekend. Mirik recorded 11 deaths, Jorebunglow four, Sukhia Pokhari two, and Darjeeling Sadar one.