Mamata blames DVC for north Bengal floods,calls it man-made; toll rises to 28 : Rescue operations on as several remain missing

North Bengal Floods: CM Mamata Banerjee Blames Dam Mismanagement, Announces Relief Measures

PTI, Kolkata, October 6, 2025 :  Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called the floods and ensuing destruction in North Bengal “man-made” and blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for the “unrestricted” release of water, which resulted in rivers overflowing in the southern parts of the state.

Mamata also announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the floods and landslides, besides offering a job of home guard to one member of each bereaved family. The Chief Minister was speaking to reporters at Kolkata Airport before leaving for Bagdogra to oversee relief and rescue operations in the flood-ravaged areas of North Bengal.

The death toll in the devastating landslides and floods rose to 28, as disaster management personnel continued rescue operations on Monday. Several people are still missing and thousands of tourists remain stranded in isolated hill pockets, officials said.

North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha said the toll is likely to go up. “The situation remains extremely challenging. Till now, we have reports that 28 people have died. A few more bodies were recovered since last night. The deaths were reported from both Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts. Continuous rainfall is hampering the rescue operations,” he told newspersons.

Among the worst-affected areas are Mirik, Sukhiapokhri, and Jorebunglow in Darjeeling, and Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district, officials said. The rescue operations, led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were continuing across multiple sites, with heavy earth-moving machinery being used to locate people feared trapped under mounds of debris, they added.

“Clearing operations are underway at more than 40 landslide points. Our teams are working around the clock to reopen the Mirik-Darjeeling and Sukhiapokhri roads,” an official said. The district administration has set up relief camps in coordination with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and local NGOs, an official added. “Food, blankets, medicines, and drinking water are being provided to all displaced families,” he said.

A GTA official said road connectivity to several hamlets remained severed even 24 hours after the disaster. “Entire slopes have caved in, bridges washed away, and large portions of roads are buried under mud. Helicopter sorties may be needed to reach some interior villages,” he said.

Hundreds of visitors who had travelled to the hills for Durga Puja vacations remained stranded as the arterial roads to Siliguri at the foothills were blocked. Efforts are being made to help them reach Siliguri in batches via alternative routes, an official said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall may continue in the region till Tuesday morning, with an alert issued for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts, according to an IMD official. “Given the saturated soil and ongoing rain, the risk of fresh landslides remains high,” he said.

The Chief Minister on Monday also pointed to the Hooghly River flowing close to the danger mark and alleged that water from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh was being released from Farakka, putting Bengal’s rivers at risk.

“The DVC is releasing water as per its wish. The lack of desiltation of Maithon and Panchet reservoirs has significantly reduced their water retention capacity. The DVC is doing this to save Jharkhand from flooding, and Bengal is bearing the brunt. We don’t mind that Jharkhand needs to be saved, but we have been asking them to carry out desiltation for the last two decades,” she said.

“Why do you need the dams? The water could have flowed in its natural course and naturally drained out. All states could then have shared the impact equally. But it is Bengal that’s at the receiving end. The water is being released through the Durgapur and Farakka barrages, and our roads and bridges are getting washed out,” she added.

Mamata said she had received a communication from the Bhutan government on Sunday, expressing sympathies. “We had requested them to release water slowly because once it is released, it takes 2-3 days to reach us. Still, with the amount they released, Nagrakata was washed away, along with Dhupguri and many areas of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Matigara, Darjeeling, and Mirik. The worst-affected regions are Nagrakata and Mirik, as well as Jorebunglow and Kalimpong,” she stated.

The Chief Minister said many tourists have already been rescued, though one person from Diamond Harbour remains missing. “We will bring back about 500 tourists today from the region. We are using 45 Volvo buses and buses of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation, and have made temporary stay arrangements for others in Siliguri,” she said, adding that the state government has asked hotels not to evacuate stranded tourists. “Bringing all tourists back is our responsibility,” Mamata asserted.

She also stated that she, accompanied by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, would reach Hashimara first and head towards the flood-ravaged area of Nagrakata. She will visit Mirik on Tuesday. “The DGP has already reached North Bengal. I have asked Minister Aroop Biswas and Siliguri Mayor Goutam Deb to reach Dhupguri to oversee relief operations,” she said.

Mamata also accused the Centre of stopping funds for flood relief measures and said the state government was “somehow” managing the situation on its own.