Massive disaster in North Bengal due to Bhutan’s water, says Mamata Banerjee — demands compensation
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today blamed water released from Bhutan for the recent massive disaster in North Bengal and said Bhutan should compensate for the damage. Speaking to the media at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district, the chief minister said, “This disaster happened because of Bhutan’s water. They must compensate for the damage.” During her visit, Banerjee walked through the flood-affected areas, personally surveyed the damage, distributed relief materials, and handed out job appointment letters to one family member of each deceased victim. After returning to Kolkata last Wednesday following an initial assessment of the situation, the chief minister returned to North Bengal yesterday. She toured several affected areas in Alipurduar and then proceeded to Nagrakata today morning. Her first stop was Bamonbari, where she handed out appointment letters for government jobs to seven individuals. Assuring full support, Banerjee said the state government would compensate all local losses incurred due to the disaster. Speaking at Bamonbari, the CM reiterated her long-standing demand,”We’ve been asking for the formation of an Indo-Bhutan River Commission that includes Bengal as a member. This entire incident happened because of the water released from Bhutan.” She then criticised the central government, saying, “We have to do everything ourselves. Delhi doesn’t give a single rupee.” She also revealed that, following pressure from the state, the Centre has scheduled a meeting on October 16 to discuss the issue. A state official will represent Bengal in the meeting, although the exact agenda remains unclear. “We’ve given Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those who died. We also promised a job to one family member, and today, those appointment letters are being handed over,” the chief minister said after handing over job letters to one of the family members of the deceased. She added that a temporary iron footbridge has been constructed at the site where villagers previously crossed using a damaged bridge. Additionally, the state has pledged to rebuild homes destroyed in the disaster. Farmers whose agricultural land has been damaged will receive crop insurance payouts. The government will also arrange special camps for those who have lost or damaged their official documents in the floods. Once individuals submit a list of lost documents, the government will provide certified copies or duplicates.
Dilip Ghosh slams TMC over Darjeeling disaster response, alleges attack by ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh has launched a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, accusing it of a delayed and inadequate response to the recent landslide disaster in Darjeeling. Ghosh also alleged that BJP leaders who rushed to assist affected people were attacked by so called “Bangladeshi infiltrators” allegedly protected by the ruling party. Speaking to the media, Ghosh said, “Even after such a big tragedy, no TMC leader went to Darjeeling. It is the government’s duty to provide help and ensure people’s safety, but the Chief Minister went there two to three days after the disaster. Our BJP MLAs and MPs reached before her.” He further claimed that BJP’s tribal MPs, who visited the affected tribal communities, were attacked by individuals he labelled as illegal infiltrators. “They were attacked by Bangladeshi infiltrators who are being protected by TMC. Our MPs were attacked because TMC doesn’t want the truth to come out,” Ghosh alleged. His remarks have sparked a fresh political storm in West Bengal, with the BJP accusing the state government of mismanaging the crisis and failing to provide timely relief. The party has also reiterated its long-standing concerns about alleged illegal infiltration in border regions like Darjeeling.While the rescue operation is still underway in Darjeeling.TMC has not officially responded to Ghosh’s claims yet, but party sources say the allegations are an attempt to divert attention during a time of crisis.
North Bengal situation improves, but political storm continues
The flood and landslide-hit hills, Terai, and Dooars regions of North Bengal saw further stabilization in the past 24 hours with no casualties reported. Officials said the absence of fresh rainfall has helped accelerate relief, rescue, and restoration work, preventing the situation from worsening. In Darjeeling district, the worst affected by the disaster, repair work on several damaged roads has been completed. However, the main connecting route between the hills and the plains remains out of service. “Alternative routes such as Tindharia Road and Pankhabari Road are being used to bring down stranded tourists from the hills. Most of them have already reached Siliguri safely,” said a district administration official. Weather officials have predicted no heavy rain across North Bengal in the next 24 hours, although light to medium showers are expected in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts today, for which a yellow alert has been issued. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who spent the last two days touring affected areas and overseeing relief operations, is scheduled to return to Kolkata this afternoon. She is likely to share further updates on administrative measures after reaching the state capital. Her visit, however, has not been free from political controversy. The Chief Minister stopped by a Siliguri hospital where BJP MP Khagen Murmu is undergoing treatment after he and the party’s chief whip in the Assembly, Shankar Ghosh, were allegedly attacked in Bamandanga, Jalpaiguri, while distributing relief materials yesterday evening. While Murmu met the Chief Minister briefly, Ghosh reportedly declined to meet her. “I refused to meet me. Khagen da (Khagen Murmu) was not in a position to speak, so she met him. She was there for 2 minutes, and his media team kept clicking photographs. This is nothing but a gallery show,” Ghosh said. The BJP has sharply criticized Banerjee’s move. The party’s IT Cell chief and central observer for Bengal, Amit Malviya, accused her of “cheap publicity,” alleging that the incident of violence was the handiwork of ruling party supporters. “It comes as no surprise that this was yet another crass attempt by the Chief Minister to gain cheap publicity, especially after the violence unleashed by marauding mobs in Bamandanga under Sulkapara, an area long used to settle illegal Bangladeshis,” Malviya wrote on social media. However, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh termed the Chief Minister’s visit as a humanitarian gesture. “This is what we believe in the Trinamool Congress. The BJP is responsible for the people’s anger. But the Trinamool does not support physical attacks as an expression of that anger, it condemns them. We wish Khagen Babu a speedy recovery,” Ghosh said. “At the same time, we ask: ‘have you forgotten the attacks on Trinamool leaders and workers in Tripura by the BJP? And the repeated attacks on Mamata Di during the CPM regime?’ Mamata Di stands for non-violence. The CM believes in the politics of courtesy,” he added. The political blame game has only added to the tension in North Bengal, even as the administration continues its focus on restoring normalcy in the disaster-stricken hills and plains.
BJP MLA Manoj Oraon allegedly attacked in Alipurduar in North Bengal
Another tribal MLA from BJP Manoj Kumar Oraon was attacked while distributing relief materials in his Alipurduar constituency in North Bengal, a day after BJP MP Khagen Murmu was badly assaulted in the neighbouring district of Jalpaiguri.The BJP blamed the Trinamool Congress supporters for orchestrating the attacks on Oraon, which was denied by the West Bengal ruling party. According to party sources, Oraon was distributing relief material to flood-affected villagers in his constituency Kumargram when he and his entourage were surrounded and assaulted by a violent mob. The attackers allegedly hurled stones, vandalised vehicles and snatched weapons from security personnel providing protection to the lawmaker representing the Alipurduar constituency. Oraon sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Speaking from the hospital, he claimed, “While trying to help flood-hit people, I was suddenly surrounded and attacked. This is the state of democracy under the TMC.” Oraon was also attacked yesterday while distributing the materials to the flood hit people. The attack on Oraon happened barely 24 hours after BJP MP from Malda Uttar Khagen Murmu and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh were assaulted by a mob at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri. Murmu was undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Siliguri. “A group of TMC workers attacked me and my supporters when we were distributing relief items among flood-affected villagers in Kumargram,” Oraon alleged.
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.
