Alipurduar, West Bengal – Heavy rains started a day of chaos for tourists and residents in North Bengal. A wooden bridge at the Jaldapara Forest Tourist Lodge collapsed, blocking the easy way in and out of the area.
Local wildlife officer Ravikant Jha said the rescue was handled in an unlikely way: trained “Kumki” elephants hauled 2‑4 visitors across the river. “We’re moving a few more guests by elephant while the bridge stays closed,” he told .
Not far from Alipurduar, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) tackled rising waters in Darjeeling and nearby districts. The team lifted more than 160 people to safety, using boats for 105 evacuees and zip lines for another 55 in Jalpaiguri. In the process, they recovered one body and were still searching for two others.
The flood‑driven landslides caused a bridge to give way, closed several roads, and left seven people dead and two missing. “We already recovered seven bodies from the rubble and are working on two more,” stated Abhishek Roy, Additional Sub‑Inspector, Kurseong. He added that the Kurseong‑to‑Darjeeling road is blocked by a landslide at Dilaram, while the Rohini Road is jammed by debris at Gourishankar. The Tindharia road remains open, and authorities aim to evacuate all tourists in Mirik within three to four hours.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow for the loss at the bridge mishap. In a post on X, she offered her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, wished a swift recovery to the injured, and prayed for the success of ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
The week’s events underscore how heavy rain can turn ordinary travel routes into hazardous obstacles, prompting wildlife officials, disaster teams, and the nation’s leaders to act swiftly and compassionately.
Source: aninews
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