Siliguri monsoon slugfest

An excavator clears debris after a landslide along NH31C near Mongpong on Tuesday. Picture by Passang Yolmo

TT, Siliguri: Trinamul and CPM leaders have started trading charges over issue of distribution of relief for Siliguri's water woes caused by Monday's downpour.

While CPM leaders have accused that the sub-divisional administration has not responded to the call of Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) that is being run by the Left and that officials have tried to undermine the extent of damage, Trinamul leaders have alleged that the civic body did not provide any relief to the affected people.

"At least couple of thousands of people living in some localities of Siliguri got affected due to the rainfall as water entered in their homes and inundated the localities. We had sought help from the administration but unfortunately, there was no response. We have sanctioned one lakh rupees to provide relief to these people," said Asok Bhattacharya, the mayor and the CPM MLA of Siliguri.

"We have come to know from sources that a section of officials have said that there hasn't been much damage in Siliguri due to the rainfall. They are trying to undermine the loss as around 30 bridges and culverts, which are spread across the civic area, have got damaged due to the rain," he added.

The civic body, he said, will seek help from the Municipal Engineering Directorate (MED) to make assessments for repair of these culverts. A sum of around Rs 10 crores is required for the work, he said.

Trinamul councillors at SMC, on the other hand, met the Commissioner and handed over a memorandum to him.

"People have suffered due to the sudden bout of heavy rain and yet, the civic body here has not stood by them. We have expressed our concern and have also said that most of the roads and culverts of the city are in bad shape and needs repair. The repair works should be carried out before the festive season," said Ranjan Sarkar, the leader of opposition at SMC.

Sarkar also alleged shortcomings in conservancy services. "Siliguri needs to be cleaned thoroughly before the festivities," he said.

BJP leaders attacked

Abhijit Roy Choudhury, the Siliguri (organisational) district president of the BJP and some of his party colleagues alleged that they were attacked by some miscreants in Pati Colony area of Siliguri on Tuesday afternoon.

Roy Choudhury said he was returning from a party event when the youths attacked him. As two other party leaders reached the spot, they were also assaulted.

A woman leader later filed a complaint at Pradhannagar police station, alleging that the miscreants have snatched cash and gold ornaments from them.

The incident prompted BJP workers to raise a blockade at Hill Cart Road, which was withdrawn after 20 minutes or so after police officials assured necessary steps.