Bengal BJP chief reviews rescue operations in North Bengal; assures people of all assistance
Kolkata, Oct 6 – BJP leaders rushed to Jalpaiguri after weeks of heavy rain that triggered deadly landslides and flooding in North Bengal.
Samik Bhattacharya, the BJP state president, arrived Monday morning to see the rescue teams in action. He toured the flood‑affected villages with BJP Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tigga and Jayanta Roy. The trio met with families who lost homes and livestock, promising the party would do everything possible to help them rebuild.
Unlike a similar visit by BJP MP Khagen Murmu, Bhattacharya faced no protests from the locals. He will head back to Kolkata in the evening, after sharing his observations with media at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport.
During the trip, Bhattacharya again criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for holding a Durga Puja carnival on Sunday, instead of pausing festivities because of the disaster. He called the state government “indistinguishable from a reckless, incompetent administration” that has neglected North Bengal’s pain. In a statement, Bhattacharya said the government’s lack of relief efforts “has left people with no faith in the government while it hosts fairs and festivals.”
BJP’s Raju Bista, the MP for Darjeeling, wrote a letter to the chief minister requesting that the disaster be declared a “state disaster.” He said such a declaration would unlock full central assistance for the region.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee himself visited the affected areas on Monday afternoon. She announced a one‑time sum of ₹5 million for each victim’s family and offered a state‑police home‑guard job to one member from every affected family. “Money can’t replace lives, but the government must act responsibly,” Banerjee said. “These job offers and compensation help families avoid dependence on others.”
The rains that caused at least 23 deaths – mainly from landslides – finally eased at the start of these days. Rescue operations sped up, and stranded tourists were brought down from the hills. The situation in North Bengal continues to call for coordinated relief from both state and central governments.
Source: ianslive
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