View of Pulbazar Bridge partially collapsed due to severe soil erosion after the heavy rainfall, in Bijanbari. File.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The West Bengal Government has appointed a State-level Task Force for relief, restoration and reconstruction of areas affected by floods in North Bengal.
The Task Force held its first meeting on Saturday (October 18, 2025) where two senior Ministers of West Bengal Government Moloy Ghatak, Minister for Law and Judicial Affairs and Udayan Guha Minister for North Bengal Development along with Chief Executive of GTA Anit Thapa and senior officials of West Bengal Government participated.
“The Task Force reviewed ongoing relief measures and discussed immediate and long-term restoration works, focussing on housing damage assessment, roads, permanent infrastructure repair, desiltation and plantation drives,” a press statement by the West Bengal Government said.
According to the State Government in Darjeeling, 19 relief shelters housing 640 persons are operational, with ongoing distribution of essentials. “More than 200 damage assessment teams and 21 outreach camps are assisting with housing and infrastructure damage assessment and re- issuance of documents,” the statement added
Floods and landslips triggered by severe rainfall on October 5 had claimed more than 30 lives and left thousands homeless in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and other districts of North Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the region twice to take stock of relief and restoration works.
Meanwhile, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista claimed that his convoy was attacked in Darjeeling district on Saturday (October 18, 2025). Stones were thrown on his convoy and one vehicle in his convoy suffered minor damage.
“In Masdhura, near Sukhia Pokhari today, my convoy was attacked by unknown miscreants. Though those cowards had attacked me, the force of the attack fell on the vehicle immediately behind mine,” Mr. Bista posted on social media.
The two term Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Darjeeling said he will not be fazed due to such attacks. “We are not scared, and such cowardly attacks only embolden our spirits,” he added.
A senior police officer from Darjeeling said a case has been lodged against an unknown individual. Earlier this month, BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh were attacked at Jalpaiguri when they were visiting flood-affected areas.
Published – October 19, 2025 10:30 am IST
