38 killed in Darjeeling landslide

Siliguri/Kolkata: At least 38 people were killed in landslides triggered by incessant rain in West Bengal's Darjeeling hills since late Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday. Eight others were reported missing.

The landslides have badly affected National Highways 31 and 10, snapping the road link with Sikkim. The heavy rainfall also washed away the Rohini-Garidhura Bridge.

Landslides occurred at several places between Mongpong and Sevoke Kalibari, leaving people stranded on NH 31.

While the state government announced a compensation of Rs.4 lakh to the families of each of those killed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a grant of Rs.2 lakh each from the National Relief Fund.

Condoling the deaths, Modi wrote on Twitter that Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju was headed for the region to take stock of the situation.

"Money can never compensate the loss of life. However, the state government has decided to pay Rs.4 lakh to the kin of those who have died and Rs.1.25 lakh to the injured. The government will provide all kind of assistance for the rehabilitation of those affected by the calamity," she said.