Darj relief for landslide-hit inadequate

Deep Gazmer | TNN | Jul 19, 2019 | Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Disaster Management Committee (DDMC), the social wing of GNLF, on Thursday pointed a finger at the district administration and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) for not doing enough to provide relief to those affected in landslides.

The first casualties of the monsoon in the Hills were a couple from Pubung Fathak in Sukhia on July 8. Over the next 10 days, several properties were damaged and many people were displaced.

DDMC convener Pravin Zimba said officials of the district and GTA were visiting affected places and even distributing relief materials but these were not enough. “We (DDMC) have visited several affected areas. Even district administration and GTA have reached there. However, we have found that relief arrangements are not good enough. Only assurance and showing up is not enough,” he said.

According to Zimba, at many places such as Relling, Milling and Kalej Valley, the affected were shifted to community halls and temporary camps. “Rain water inundates relief rooms. The elderly are not provided clothes and medicines and no proper sanitation have been arranged,” he said.