By IANS
Kolkata : Landslides triggered by incessant rainfall have claimed eight lives and displaced over 500 people in Darjeeling district of West Bengal in the past two days.
The landslips have blocked and cut off several roads, including national highways 31 and 31A, that link Sikkim with Darjeeling, parts of Kalimgpong and Kurseong in the district.
“Eight people have died in landslides so far in Darjeeling and hundreds shifted to safer places in the last two days. The road communication has collapsed in many places due to heavy rainfall,” West Bengal inspector general (North Bengal) R.J.S. Nawla told IANS.
“We are trying to resume road connectivity as early as possible. The local administration, army and Border Road Organisation officials are at work to clear the debris from the road,” Nawla said, adding there was no report of fresh landslides Saturday.
Officials said 30 houses have been damaged in Darjeeling town and 31 in Kurseong.
The attendance in government offices and schools has been thin this week due to ceaseless rain in the northern part of the state.
Sources said an alert has also been sounded in northern Bengal as the water levels of all major rivers – Teesta, Torsa, Jaldhaka, Leesh, Gheesh – have gone above the danger level.