Panic in north Bengal, Darjeeling cut off
Panic in north Bengal, Darjeeling cut off
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Press Trust of India,Express news service
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 at 0214 hrs IST
Kolkata The West Bengal government has asked the Army to assist civil authorities, if needed, in relief and rescue work inDarjeeling and some other North Bengal districts affected by the massive quake that hit the region on Sunday evening.
Darjeeling remained cut off from the rest of the country as landslides blocked major roads and power lines snapped. “I have talked to the army authorities here and requested them to provide help if necessary,” Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh said.
Four deaths were reported in the state, three in Darjeeling district and one in Jalpaiguri district, Ghosh said. Of the deaths in Darjeeling district, one each occurred inKalimpong, Kurseong and Siliguri sub-divisions, he said.
Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded at Siliguri, where one elderly person also died of heart attack at Khalpar and 30 were admitted to various hospitals after they were injured while trying to flee to safety.
“People were injured when they jumped from rooftops and verandahs. There was panic as the tremors hit us twice. Two houses collapsed and several others were damaged. Electric lines have snapped and mobiles are not working. We are arranging for relief,'' Gangotri Dutta, chairperson of Siliguri municipality, told The Indian Express over the phone.
“The epicentre of the quake is on the Sikkim-Nepal border and the intensity of the quake is 6.8 on the Richter scale,” said G C Debnath, director of Alipore Meterological Centre. He said aftershocks were felt in North Bengal at 6.11 pm.
Debnath said because of inclement weather and the quake, there could be landslides at some places in North Bengal.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people not to panic. “I have spoken to Chief Minister of Sikkim. I hope the situation will not be as bad in North Bengal,” she said. The CM said assessment of the damage in North Bengal, particularly in the hills, was not possible before morning. Banerjee said there have been damage in Darjeeling Hills “but hopefully not on the scale that has happened in Sikkim”. She said efforts were on to restore power supply in the hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
“The Darjeeling district magistrate has already been asked to assess whether there has been any damage to any building or household in the hills,” Banerjee said, adding that necessary assistance will be provided in case of any damage. “District Magistrates, SPs, city police commissioner and disaster management and power departments have been asked to remain alert. I am also monitoring the entire situation,” Banerjee said.
The chief minister also cautioned people to remain alert against the activities of anti-social elements. “Anti-socials always take advantage of difficult situation and exploit people. Keep your eyes open,” she said.
State Commerce and Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee has left for Jalpaiguri. According to the Chief Minister, he and Gautam Deb, Minister for North Bengal Development, will jointly assess the situation. In Jalpaiguri, fire broke out a power station, which, the Chief Minister said, was brought under control.
In Kolkata and adjoining areas, there was panic across the city and people came out of highrises. There was not much damage except for cracks at a few places like the police housing colony at Ultadanga.
Source:- http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/panic-in-north-bengal-darjeeling-cut-off/848498/
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