Toll at 81 as Aila hits North Bengal

“Ten bodies were dug out of debris in Darjeeling and six others died in mudslides at Kurseong,” Additional District Magistrate (General) of Darjeeling,P Zimba,said.

Darjeeling remained cut off from the plains as both Hill Cart Road and Pankhabari Road from the north Bengal town remained blocked by landslides at Ghoom,SP Rahul Srivastava said. Two main roads,including NH 31 connecting Siliguri and Gangtok,were blocked due to rain and landslides.

With the Teesta flowing above the danger level,incessant rains and strong gales have already damaged a hydro-electric project on the river.

Chakraborty said IAF helicopters made four sorties in North and South 24 Parganas districts,air-dropping food packets and water pouches. Two columns of the Army were engaged in rescue operations in the Parganas districts,he said,adding 41,000 affected people were sheltered in 109 relief camps across the state and 65 medical teams have been sent to East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas.

Over 61,000 dwellings have been totally damaged and 1.32 lakh hutments partly damaged,he said.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 1.50 crore from the Contingency Fund for the relief operations,he said,adding that 1,800 tonnes of rice and one lakh pieces of tarpaulin were distributed in the affected areas. Sixty-five medical teams were sent to North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts,he said.

The Centre has dispatched 400 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Union Home Ministry has asked the Sikkim government to take necessary precaution as cyclone Aila could hit the state. The Centre has also dispatched 200 personnel of the riverine units of BSF based in the Sundarbans.