Mamata Banerjee to visit North Bengal tomorrow to review flood and landslide situation
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that she will be visiting North Bengal tomorrow to personally assess the situation caused by continuous heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides that have wreaked havoc across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and adjoining districts. Speaking to media over the phone, Banerjee said, “I will be travelling to North Bengal tomorrow along with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant. By afternoon, I will reach Siliguri and monitor the situation from there.” For now, the Chief Minister has been stationed in the control room in Nabanna, keeping a close watch since this morning. She added that she had already held a virtual meeting with officials of five North Bengal districts and has been monitoring developments since 6 am. Torrential rain has battered Darjeeling and Kalimpong, triggering multiple landslides, road blockages, and rising river levels since yesterday evening. At least 13 deaths have been reported so far from Darjeeling district alone. Nine people were killed when an iron bridge collapsed in Mirik, seven lost their lives in Sukhiapokhri, and another was reported dead in Bijanbari. Tourists remain stranded as several key roads have been cut off, and communication with Kalimpong and Sikkim has been completely disrupted, officials said. Banerjee attributed the worsening conditions to heavy rainfall in Bhutan, which has swelled rivers in North Bengal. “The rainwater from Bhutan has flooded our region. This calamity is extremely unfortunate. Disasters are beyond human control, but we are deeply distressed,” she said. The Alipore Meteorological Department had already issued a warning of heavy rainfall in Darjeeling, and by Saturday night, the region was lashed by continuous downpours. The Teesta river has risen sharply, flooding stretches of National Highway 10 near 29 Mile Balukhola in Teestabazar, leading to the closure of the crucial road link. In addition, part of the iron bridge between Mirik and Doodhia collapsed, cutting off connectivity between Siliguri and Mirik, as well as severely hampering access to Darjeeling town — an unusual occurrence. Rescue operations are underway, though officials admitted that bad weather has made the task extremely challenging. The Additional Superintendent of Police (Kurseong) said that five bodies had already been recovered from Mirik, with two more earlier, and four confirmed dead in Sukhiapokhri. “Roads via Rohini and Dilaram are completely blocked. We are trying to rescue those stranded in Mirik and evacuate residents from affected areas,” the official said. Police later confirmed at least 13 deaths, warning that the toll could rise further. Landslides near Dilaram have also blocked the main road leading to Darjeeling, while routes towards Kalimpong and Sikkim remain closed. Wild animals have also been displaced by the floods, with two deer rescued after straying into villages. Several rivers are now flowing above the danger mark. Meanwhile, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) issued an advisory on Sunday morning, temporarily closing popular tourist spots like Rock Garden and Tiger Hill. Visitors have been urged to exercise caution amid the continuing natural disaster. Banerjee is expected to chair high-level meetings in Siliguri after reaching North Bengal on Monday and coordinate further relief and rescue operations.
Four killed as heavy rain triggers landslides, floods in north Bengal; red alert issued
Incessant rainfall over the past few days has triggered landslides and flash floods across north Bengal, claiming at least four lives and severely disrupting normal life, officials said on Saturday. A major landslide struck Mirik in Darjeeling district, leaving four persons dead and several others injured. The 10th National Highway, connecting Siliguri with Darjeeling, has been blocked at multiple points due to landslides, cutting off road connectivity between the plains and the hills. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall till Monday morning. Several tourists have been stranded in the hills as vehicular movement remains severely restricted. The bridge at Dudhiyara, linking Mirik and Siliguri, has suffered extensive damage, while portions of the 29 Mile area and Baluwakhani have been submerged by the overflowing Teesta river. In Siliguri’s Porajhar area, a breach in an embankment led to inundation of vast tracts of land and several houses. Rivers including the Teesta, Mahananda, Jaldhaka and Torsa are flowing above the danger level, triggering fears of worsening flood conditions. District administrations have started evacuating residents from vulnerable zones to safer locations and initiated relief operations. Officials said the situation may deteriorate further if the rain continues unabated over the next 24 hours.
Left Front stages protest rally in Kolkata against Israeli actions in Gaza
Kolkata witnessed a massive rally on Saturday as the Left Front and its affiliated organisations marched from Rabindra Sadan to Lenin’s Statue at Esplanade, raising their voice against the recent Israeli attack on a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for Gaza. The protesters also demanded the immediate release of internationally renowned activists, including environmentalist Greta Thunberg, who have reportedly been detained for standing in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.The rally, called by Left parties, was marked by a sea of banners, posters and placards condemning Israel’s actions. The demonstrators carried slogans demanding an immediate end to what they described as “genocide in Gaza” and condemned the United States for providing continuous support to what they termed “war crimes” by Israel. Senior Left leaders, including Left Front chairman Biman Bose, CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty, and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) general secretary Srijan Bhattacharya, were present at the forefront of the rally. They walked shoulder to shoulder with a large number of activists, students, workers, and common citizens who had gathered in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Speakers at the rally strongly criticised the Israeli government for launching repeated assaults on civilian populations in Gaza, as well as the attack on the flotilla carrying humanitarian aid. “The attack is not only an assault on the people of Gaza but also on international humanitarian principles,” Sujan Chakraborty said. He further alleged that such actions were possible only because of unconditional backing from the United States, which continues to shield Israel on international platforms. The rally reiterated the student community’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and demanded the immediate release of Greta Thunberg and other activists who had stood up against what they called “ecological destruction and human rights violations in the name of war.” The rally saw hundreds of participants chanting slogans such as “Stop genocide in Gaza,” “Free the detained activists,” and “Down with US-backed Israeli war crimes.” The protest concluded at Lenin’s statue in Esplanade, where participants took a pledge to continue mobilising public opinion in support of Palestine. The leaders announced that similar rallies and meetings would be held across districts in West Bengal in the coming days to sustain the momentum.
Murshidabad explosion kills man while making crude bombs
A middle-aged man, identified as Usman Biswas, was killed while manufacturing crude bombs in West Bengal’s border district of Murshidabad, barely 24 hours after a woman died in a similar incident in the same district, police said today. The explosion took place late last night at Chhatiani village under Raninagar police station limits. Biswas died on the spot under a bamboo grove. The incident took a dramatic turn as Biswas, who had left home last evening after being summoned by three friends on a motorcycle, went missing after the blast shook the area. Police said the explosion triggered panic in the locality, prompting an immediate response from Raninagar police. Several crude bombs and bloodstained bamboo were recovered from the site, though one bomb was found nearby. After Biswas’s wife, Samira Bibi, reported him missing, police launched a search. One suspect, identified as Waz Karim, was arrested and confessed that Biswas’s body had been buried in a nearby bush. The body was unearthed this morning. SDPO of Beldanga, Uttam Garai, confirmed that Biswas was killed in the blast and that his associates attempted to conceal the crime by burying the body. Police said more suspects are being traced. Yesterday, a 38-year-old woman, Siddhatun Khatoon, was killed in a massive explosion while making crude bombs at her home in Nischintapur village under Domkal block of Murshidabad district.
Sanae Takaichi Set to Become Japan’s First Female Prime Minister After Winning LDP Leadership
Sanae Takaichi was elected Saturday to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, positioning her to become the country’s first female prime minister. Takaichi, 64, a former economic security minister known for her right-leaning views, defeated Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a runoff after none of the five candidates secured a majority in the first round of voting. Koizumi, 43, would have been Japan’s youngest prime minister in more than a century if he had won. The parliamentary vote to formally select Japan’s next prime minister is expected on Oct. 15. As the LDP remains the largest party in parliament, Takaichi is expected to succeed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Saturday’s vote included 295 LDP lawmakers and about 1 million dues-paying party members, representing roughly 1% of Japan’s population. Takaichi will face significant challenges once in office, including a rapidly aging population, sluggish economic growth, rising geopolitical tensions, and increasing debate over immigration policy. Although the LDP retains the largest bloc in the Diet, the ruling coalition lost its majority in both chambers in recent elections. To govern effectively, Takaichi’s administration will likely seek to strengthen its alliance with the moderate Komeito party and reach out to centrist opposition groups. Takaichi’s election marks a historic moment for Japan, which has never before had a woman serve as prime minister in its postwar history.
