By IANS,
Siliguri (West Bengal) : Three of a family were among seven people killed in landslides triggered by heavy rains in the West Bengal hills Sunday. More casualties are feared, an official said.
The landslides also injured three in the hilly Kurseong and Kalimpong sub-divisions of Darjeeling district. Five of the deaths occurred in Kurseong, two perished in Kalimpong, the official said.
The landslides occurred at various places, including in tea gardens, along the National Highway 65 connecting Kurseong with Siliguri and Darjeeling, as also in areas like Pankhabari and Rohini Sunday morning following heavy rains over the past two days, said Kurseong sub-divisional police officer Rakesh Singh.
“The three members of the same family – a couple and their child – died at Gourishankar tea estate premises. Another person died in a remote tea garden, while the fifth death occurred near the Rohini-Sirubari road,” Singh said.
Kalimpong additional superintendent of police Krishna Bahadur Dorji said a two and half year old child and a 55-year-old man slipped when the landslide occurred and fell into a stream far below. “Their bodies were fished out in the afternoon,” he said.
Police and fire brigade personnel were rescuing the injured and those trapped because of the landslides. Around 80 people were shifted to safer places after their houses got damaged. Relief materials comprising tarpauline sheets and dry food have been rushed to the affected areas.
The road connectivity between Darjeeling and Siliguri has snapped, Rakesh Singh said.
At least 28 people died in landslides in Darjeeling district in May.