Death toll in North Bengal landslides rises to 36 as rescue efforts intensify. BJP questions Mamata Banerjee’s moral authority amid political clashes over relief handling and an attack on party leaders in disaster-hit regions.
The death toll from the devastating landslides and heavy rainfall that struck North Bengal’s hill and Terai-Dooars regions has climbed to 36, according to official figures from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local administrations in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. Torrential rains over the past few days triggered multiple landslides, damaging homes, roads, and infrastructure, leaving several families displaced and entire villages cut off from communication.
With weather conditions improving since Monday morning, rescue and relief operations have intensified. NDRF teams, local authorities, and volunteers are working round the clock to clear debris and restore connectivity in the affected areas. Many stranded tourists have been rescued and shifted to safer zones, while the state government has set up relief camps to provide shelter and essential supplies to the victims.
According to disaster management officials, major landslides occurred along the National Highway 10, which connects Siliguri to Gangtok, severely disrupting traffic movement. Several parts of Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Malbazar have reported severe damage, with bridges washed away and electricity poles uprooted. Authorities have advised people to stay cautious as the soil in hilly terrains remains unstable despite improved weather.
While the state continues to grapple with the natural calamity, a political controversy has erupted between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the handling of the crisis and a recent attack on BJP leaders.
On Monday afternoon, the vehicle carrying Khagen Murmu, BJP Lok Sabha MP from Malda North, and Shankar Ghosh, the party’s Chief Whip in the West Bengal Assembly, was reportedly attacked while they were en route to the disaster-hit regions with relief materials. Murmu was seriously injured in the incident.
Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the episode on social media, accusing the TMC government of being insensitive and highlighting what he described as the “pathetic law and order situation” in West Bengal. His remarks triggered a sharp response from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who accused the Prime Minister of “politicising a natural disaster” without waiting for verified reports or an administrative inquiry.
In her statement, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP was attempting to use the tragedy for political mileage, saying that “instead of standing with the people of Bengal in this hour of grief, the Prime Minister is busy pointing fingers.” She added that her government had already mobilised full-scale relief efforts and that rescue operations were progressing efficiently.
However, the BJP quickly countered her remarks. Amit Malviya, the BJP’s Information Technology Cell Chief and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, issued a statement late Monday night, questioning the Chief Minister’s moral authority to lecture the Prime Minister on ethics and governance.
“It wasn’t the Prime Minister who politicised the disaster—it was Mamata Banerjee who abdicated her responsibility. Instead of leading the relief efforts in the affected regions, she was seen celebrating in Kolkata while BJP MPs and MLAs were on the ground providing aid,” Malviya claimed.
He further alleged that the attack on BJP leaders was orchestrated by TMC-backed goons, not local residents, and accused the ruling party of turning disaster relief into a partisan activity. “The same Chief Minister who speaks of constitutional ethos runs a regime where opposition candidates are killed during elections, women are brutalised in Sandeshkhali and Basirhat, police act as party muscle, and relief is distributed on party lines,” he said.
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As political accusations continue to fly, ground reports suggest that the humanitarian situation in the northern districts remains serious. Several remote villages still lack access to clean water, electricity, and communication. Relief workers have expressed concern about the potential spread of waterborne diseases if restoration efforts are delayed.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate rainfall over the next few days, but no major weather warnings have been issued. Both state and central agencies are working to ensure the safety of the affected residents, even as the political storm between TMC and BJP shows no sign of calming down.
