North Bengal floods: CM urges tourists to avoid Hills

Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee held a meeting over the flood situation in North Bengal at Nabanna on Monday where she urged tourists to avoid the Hills and the administration to bring tourists back safely. “North Bengal is getting flooded. There is also heavy rain in Sikkim, and roads are hit by landslides. We must ensure tourists can return home safely,” she said.“There is no point in being adventurous and going to the Hills during this monsoon,” Banerjee urged tourists.
Saying that there was a heavy chance of flood in districts of north Bengal, the CM added: “We will run a special monitoring unit till Oct 8 to ensure prompt action during an emergency. There will be an emergency contact number.”
Banerjee said state govt had taken measures to prevent river erosion in Jalpaiguri, but water from Bhutan entered Bengal during the monsoon, flooding Alipurduar. “We are the worst sufferers. Roads are broken, and river banks have eroded. The DMs and SPs have been instructed to alert the Army in case of a landslide in the Hills. At Jalpaiguri, portions of Mal, Kranti, Sadar and Rajganj block have been damaged. We have made nine flood centres, currently holding 600 people. There can be flash floods before Puja, causing more havoc,” she said.
The CM asked people to be wary of fallen poles and wires during rain. She asked the authorities in Jalpaiguri to switch off electricity for a few minutes if needed and stock up on food and relief material. About 600 people from Mathabhanga and Tufanganj in Cooch Behar have been staying in relief centres, she said. Banerjee said, if necessary, shift duties would be implemented in irrigation department, and leaves cancelled.
Banerjee said: “The situation in the two Dinajpurs is normal. From now on, measures must be taken in consultation with the DM. DVC releases water arbitrarily. I have now instructed that water cannot be released without prior notice. Khanakul, Arambag, Goghat, Midnapore and Jhargram get flooded. If water is released from Mukutmanipur, Bankura and Durgapur get flooded. DVC must report to me daily on how much water they will release. They cannot release 100% at once. If they start releasing gradually when it is 75% full, there won't be a problem.”