West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visits a relief camp for landslides-affected people, at Mirik in Darjeeling district.
| Photo Credit: PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) accused some people of indulging in politics in the name of flood relief in North Bengal. The Chief Minister, who was touring flood-affected areas, said these people were “trying to bring politics into Dhupguri and Maynaguri ( areas affected by floods)” and were demoralising the locals.
Ms. Banerjee was targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in the state and said that they were visiting the flood affected areas only for “photo shoots”.
“Instead of helping, you deliver grand speeches funded by the BJP, you do photoshoots for a day and then disappear. On the other hand, we will rebuild the houses and the bridges, clear the roads after landslides, provide relief to the people and run community kitchens. The Centre has no role in any of this…” the Chief Minister said.
The remark by the Trinamool Congress chairperson comes in the backdrop of an attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh on October 6 when they were visiting Nagrakata in North Bengal to meet people affected by the floods. The attack on the BJP leaders by locals drew widespread criticism and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had criticised the Trinamool Congress government for failing to provide security to Opposition leaders.
After the floods in North Bengal on October 5, which claimed over 30 lives, the Chief Minister had visited the area twice. On Tuesday, Ms. Banerjee visited landslide affected areas in Mirik and met with the family members of those who lost lives in the recent landslides. Later in the day, the Chief Minister interacted with the families affected by the recent disaster at a camp in Mirik Bazar
“The Hon’ble Chief Minister also visited the Sukhiapokhri, where she interacted with affected families and handed over cheques of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the four deceased victims and distributed 10 job appointment letters for Special Home Guard posts to their next-of-kin of deceased. She distributed relief materials,” a press statement by the West Bengal government said.
The statement also added that the Chief Minister reiterated that all damaged houses will be reconstructed with financial assistance of ₹1.2 lakh per house.
Meanwhile, the Government of West Bengal has appealed to the people to contribute to the West Bengal State Disaster Management Authority (WBSDMA) Fund to support immediate rescue, relief and long-term rehabilitation efforts for the affected communities.
Trinamool Congress general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee took to social media and informed that he has contributed ₹1 lakh to the fund.
“In these testing times, every act of kindness matters. I appeal to all to come forward and generously contribute to stand beside those who have lost so much in this man-made tragedy,” Mr. Banerjee said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has described the floods as “man made” claiming that waters from rivers of Bhutan and Sikkim have flooded North Bengal. On Monday, she also said that Bhutan should provide compensation to West Bengal for the disaster.
Published – October 15, 2025 05:21 am IST
