Farmer killed in Kalimpong, fresh landslide in Kurseong

ENS, Kolkata, Updated: July 9, 2015: ody of a 53-year-old farmer was recovered in Kalimpong Wednesday morning after heavy rain resulted in another landslide in Kurseong in the disaster-torn Darjeeling district late Tuesday night.

Officials say Dilli Ram Adhikary was washed away in the rain and his body was recovered from Lower Bong Bustee in Kalimpong region.

“A landslide had also occurred on NH-10 in Seti Jhora area. It happened at 9 pm yesterday and the road was cleared by 7 am Wednesday. The traffic is normal,” Darjeeling District Magistrate Anurag Srivastava said.

The DM said that around 3,300 people have been accommodated in 43 camps with improved toilet facilities and more doctors.

Multiple landslides in three regions of Darjeeling have resulted in as many as 41 people losing their lives and property worth Rs 50 crore lost.

Srivastava, however, said the death toll in previous landslides was 32. “Some agencies are considering the eight missing as dead. But the official figure is that 32 persons have died and eight are missing,” he said.

Meanwhile, representatives of several NGOs met political leaders Tuesday in the presence of district authorities who invited suggestions. It is learnt that laying of cable by a private firm was done without permission and was immediately stopped until the rain receded as it could be one of the reasons leading to the landslides.