Incessant rainfall that has been lashing the Hills since Saturday has triggered several major and minor landslides at several places in Darjeeling district. The rainfall last night led to several landslides yesterday and fresh ones were reported in the Kurseong subdivision area today.
Two major landslides occurred at two different places in the Kurseong region ~ one on National Highway-55 near Selim Hill tea estate, in the Ghayabari-Tindharia area, and the other on the Ghayabari-Giddhapahar by-pass road.
However, debris was cleared on the highway later today, while traffic remained blocked on the bypass road as a major portion of the road has caved in.
Last night’s rainfall also brought crashing down huge boulders and debris on Toy Train tracks near Selim Hill tea estate at several places. “We are in the process of clearing the rails tracks of all the boulders and debris that have fallen on the tracks,” a railway official said.
Several other link roads have also been affected and partially damaged in the overnight rains, it is learnt. However, light vehicles are still plying on some link roads within the sub-division area.
Kurseong SDO, Debashish Chattopadhyay, said that several minor and major landslides were reported from different places in Kurseong sub-division. “However, there is no report of any casualty so far,” he said. “Presently, relief work, as well as road-clearance works, are underway at different landslide-affected sites with the help of other departments concerned,” Mr Chattopadhyay added.
He added that they immediately visited the incident sites, along with other areas that are vulnerable, where the administration has urged locals to shift to safer places.