2 killed as house collapses in Darjeeling landslide

Darjeeling: The first spell of monsoon brought with it devastation and fatalities in Darjeeling and Kalimpong following incessant rains throughout Sunday night. Two persons were killed in Pubung, while a woman was injured in Bijanbari. Several roads were damaged and trees uprooted in various places.
At Pubung Fatak near Sukhia, 60-year-old Kumar Lopchan and his wife Bal Kumari, 55, were buried alive inside their house during a mudslide around 1.30am on Monday.“I heard a loud noise. Since it was raining heavily, I rushed out to see what has happened and found Kumar’s house covered in debris. I called other neighbours, but we could only bring out the bodies after four hours,” said Manan Tamang, a local resident.
Neighbours alleged negligence of the PWD department. “The road was repaired about two-three months ago. But it wasn’t properly done and an accident was waiting to happen. The landslide happened where the road was repaired,” he added.
Fire brigade and Jorebunglow police station officials took Kumar and his wife to Darjeeling district hospital, where they were declared brought dead. The couple is survived by a son and a daughter.
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chairman Anit Thapa visited the spot and assured all help to the family.
Uprooted trees blocked roads in Toongsoong, Marybong and Mota Dhura near Singtom tea estate. Debris on tracks disrupted the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway services. Over the past 24 hours, Darjeeling received 105.4mm rain, while Kurseong and Kalimpong received 26.2mm and 28mm, respectively.