President Draupadi Murmu on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of life and property in the bridge accident caused by heavy rains and landslides in Darjeeling in West Bengal. He expressed condolences to the bereaved families, wished the injured to get well soon and prayed for the success of the ongoing rescue and relief works.
President Murmu wrote in a post on X, “The tragic loss of life and property caused by heavy rains and landslides in Darjeeling of West Bengal is very sad. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the success of rescue and relief work and wish the injured to get well soon.”
North Bengal has caused landslides and severe waterlogging due to heavy rains, due to which there has been widespread damage in many districts including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri, roads have been blocked and life and property have been damaged. According to Kursiang additional Superintendent of Police Abhishek Roy, seven bodies have been recovered from the debris, and two others are still missing on the Kursiang Road, which caused the landlings to be done in Dilaram. The path was blocked. Other roads including Rohini Road have also been affected, while Tinderia Road is still operational.
Speaking on the situation, Additional Superintendent of Police of Darjeeling District Police, Additional Superintendent of Police Abhishek Roy said, “7 bodies have been removed from the debris. The condition of the road is very bad … Tindharia Road is still working. We are trying to remove all the tourists present in Mirik via Tinharia in three to four hours … ”.
Police and local officials are working to remove tourists from Mirik via Tindaria Road in the next three-four hours. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been sent to help in rescue operations. The movement of vehicles on the Siliguri-Darjiring SH-12 road has been prohibited after a part of the Dudhia iron bridge collapsed due to continuous rains in the region.