Siliguri – As floodwaters began to subside across north Bengal on Monday, rescuers uncovered eight additional bodies, pushing the death toll from one of the region’s most severe natural disasters to 36. Several individuals remain unaccounted for amid the ongoing recovery efforts.
The latest discoveries brought the total fatalities to 36, with 28 bodies retrieved by Sunday across the hilly and lowland areas. Among the victims, five hailed from Nepal, underscoring the cross-border impact of the deluge.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, arriving in the flood-ravaged north Bengal region on Monday, pledged immediate relief measures. She announced a compensation package of Rs 5 lakh for the family of each person who lost their life in the floods. “One member of each of the families will get a job as a special home guard,” Banerjee stated during her visit to Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district.
Of the eight bodies recovered Monday, four were located in Nagrakata, while the remaining four surfaced in neighboring Cooch Behar. The relentless rains and subsequent flooding not only claimed lives but also inflicted widespread infrastructure damage, including the collapse of multiple bridges. Banerjee emphasized, however, that no deaths were directly linked to these structural failures.
Special attention was drawn to Mirik, the hardest-hit area where 13 lives were lost. The chief minister highlighted the extensive destruction there and assured residents that connectivity would soon be restored. A vital bridge over the Balason River, whose destruction severed the link to Mirik, is slated for rapid reconstruction to aid recovery and access.
This calamity, triggered by record-breaking downpours, has compounded challenges in an already vulnerable terrain. Parallel reports from The Times of India noted at least seven deaths in Kolkata due to similar flooding, with schools shuttered and disruptions to metro and train services. As cleanup operations intensify, authorities continue to monitor receding waters for further risks, while families grapple with profound loss.
Banerjee’s visit and announcements signal a focused government response, though the scale of devastation in north Bengal’s hills and plains will demand sustained intervention in the weeks ahead.
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