GTA to conduct survey for assessing damages caused by October 4 flash flood in Teesta

Norden Sherpa, the executive member of the GTA (tourism), will head the 11-member committee that comprises some other members of the hill body as well as officials of Kalimpong district administration

The flooded Teesta Bazar area last month.: File picture

Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri 12.11.23 :  The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has taken up the initiative to conduct a survey for assessing the damages caused by the October 4 flash flood in the Teesta in certain parts of the Kalimpong district.

On Friday, a committee was formed by the GTA at a meeting in its headquarters Lal Kothi in Darjeeling.

“The committee will carry out a survey to assess the damage caused by the flood, identify the number of families affected and properties damaged. The survey will begin on December 1 and the committee will submit its report by December 10,” said a GTA source.

Norden Sherpa, the executive member of the GTA (tourism), will head the 11-member committee that comprises some other members of the hill body as well as officials of Kalimpong district administration.

“The survey will be carried out at Teesta Bazar, Gailkhola, 29th Mile and Reyang, which were badly affected. Many residents of these areas became homeless and are still staying at the relief camps set up by the GTA. The committee will furnish details like the exact number of affected families and their losses,” the source added.

Last month, according to the instructions of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, a four-member team of the state cabinet visited the affected areas of Kalimpong district. During the visit, it was decided that patches of land would be identified to rehabilitate the affected residents.

After their visit, representatives of GTA and officials of the district administration of Kalimpong jointly held a survey to identify such places in Teesta Bazar, Tarkhola, Rangpo and Melli.

Anit Thapa, the chief executive of GTA, visited affected areas after the disaster and monitored rescue and rehabilitation works. The Bengal government sanctioned Rs 25 crore as an immediate fund for restoration work.

“Fourteen people have lost their lives in the flash flood and their families have been compensated. A preliminary estimation shows around 550 houses were damaged by the flood,” said a source.

Out of these, 155 houses in Rangpo and Teesta Bazar were completely swept away. The disaster is believed to have left around 1,000 people homeless in the hill district, sources said.

“Once the survey is done and exact details are available with us, a rehabilitation plan will be drawn up to help the people,” said a GTA source.

Courtesy & source: The Telegraph