Landslide in Kurseong

Landslide in Kurseong

19 June 2011

KURSEONG 19 JUNE: Due to last night’s incessant rainfall, fresh landslides were reported from St Mary’s Hills in the Kurseong sub-division in Darjeeling Hills today. The landslide has affected and damaged several houses in the same area where four people had been killed on 17 June, following a devastating landslide. The people of the region started to shift to safer places.
Residents of the area alleged that a building, just above the landslide zone, is the reason behind the landslides. Mr Mahesh Chettri, a resident of the area, alleged that the drainage system of the building is such that its sewage pipes have been laid underground, resulting in water mushing the soil and landslips appearing everywhere near the area that killed four last time and damaged several houses today.
The Kurseong SDO, Mr Suden Tshering Bhutia, said that at present, preliminary relief work is on. “We are distributing tarpaulins and other aids to the affected family members through panchayat and municipality officials,” said the SDO.
“Keeping in mind the monsoon  ahead when more landslides will occur, we are going to hold a meeting with different departments along with the newly-elected Kurseong  MLA on 22 June to discuss matters pertaining to future landslides so as to be ready to face such calamities by offering relief and rescue in time.”
The north Bengal development minister, Mr Gautam Deb, will visit the landslide-affected area of St Mary’s Hills. Fot the past one decade there have been frequent landslides every monsoon mainly in Kurseong. sns

Hundreds homeless in flash flood

Hundreds homeless in flash flood

17 June 2011

SILIGURI, 17 JUNE: At least 300 families were rendered homeless in a flash flood in the  Pashchim Dhantala area of Dabgram-II gram panchayat in Jalpaiguri's Rajganj block early today.
River Mahananda was in spate after heavy rains in the Hills last night and the river breached its banks at many places, including the Dhantala area. The floodwaters gushed into the village where an embankment was unfinished, villager alleged.
Though floodwaters receded gradually at noon, flood victims are spending sleepless night fearing fresh flood. The local panchayat member, Mr Paresh Roy, said: “An embankment was under construction at Mahananda Barrage colony. It was decided that a sluice gate would be set up there but it was yet to be completed. Suddenly flood waters began gushing into the village through the incomplete part.”
Villagers were helpless when floodwaters rapidly inundated their homes. They were in no position to save their lives, belongings and cattle.
The Rajganj BDO, Mr Sutirtha Das, said: “Our officials visited the spot on receiving reports from gram panchayat. The water started receding from midday today. We are waiting for written report from our officials who visited the spot. We would request the Siliguri irrigation division to take up flood preventive measures there.” “We would provide relief materials to the victims through official process,” Mr Das added.  The river Mahanada has lost its depth and capacity of carrying floodwaters due to heavy silt deposit, irrigation officials said. The SDO, Siliguri irrigation division, Mr SK Das, said: “ We would visit the spot to take further measures.” Owing to heavy rain, which was recorded at 26 mm in the Hills last night, the water level of the river touched 115.6 metre, far below the danger mark, today. sns

Hundreds homeless in flash flood

SILIGURI, 17 JUNE: At least 300 families were rendered homeless in a flash flood in the  Pashchim Dhantala area of Dabgram-II gram panchayat in Jalpaiguri's Rajganj block early today.
River Mahananda was in spate after heavy rains in the Hills last night and the river breached its banks at many places, including the Dhantala area. The floodwaters gushed into the village where an embankment was unfinished, villager alleged.
Though floodwaters receded gradually at noon, flood victims are spending sleepless night fearing fresh flood. The local panchayat member, Mr Paresh Roy, said: “An embankment was under construction at Mahananda Barrage colony. It was decided that a sluice gate would be set up there but it was yet to be completed. Suddenly flood waters began gushing into the village through the incomplete part.”
Villagers were helpless when floodwaters rapidly inundated their homes. They were in no position to save their lives, belongings and cattle.
The Rajganj BDO, Mr Sutirtha Das, said: “Our officials visited the spot on receiving reports from gram panchayat. The water started receding from midday today. We are waiting for written report from our officials who visited the spot. We would request the Siliguri irrigation division to take up flood preventive measures there.” “We would provide relief materials to the victims through official process,” Mr Das added.  The river Mahanada has lost its depth and capacity of carrying floodwaters due to heavy silt deposit, irrigation officials said. The SDO, Siliguri irrigation division, Mr SK Das, said: “ We would visit the spot to take further measures.” Owing to heavy rain, which was recorded at 26 mm in the Hills last night, the water level of the river touched 115.6 metre, far below the danger mark, today. sns