The centre on Wednesday rushed two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to Darjeeling to help in relief and rescue operations in the wake of landslides.
Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju has also left Delhi to oversee the relief and rescue operations there on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who expressed pain over the loss of lives due to landslides and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh
each to the families of the deceased.
"PM has asked me to visit the affected areas to take stock of the severe disaster caused by heavy rainfall in Darjeeling areas of West Bengal. The situation is grim due to many death cases reported. (I) Will assess the ground situation and maximum support will be provided. Our ground rescue forces are already doing operation. I'm departing with official team at 5 pm," Rijiju said.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh also telephoned West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and assured her of all central assistance in relief and rescue operations, official sources said. Singh told Banerjee that the NDRF teams will reach the affected areas as early as possible.
Heavy rains have triggered a number of landslides in three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district since Tuesday night. So far, 22 deaths have been reported