Darjeeling landslide toll mounts to 42

One more body was on Monday night found in the landslide-battered Darjeeling district, taking the toll to 42. The body of Shreya Sharma ,9, was found from under the debris of landslide-ravaged Tingling tea estate area, a senior police officer said.

Earlier, body of Ramesh Rai, 26, was retrieved from under rubble in the 8 Mile area of Kalimpong by the National Disaster Relief Force and Civil Defence volunteers, district Disaster Cell Officer-in-charge Gopal Rai said.

The search operation was on to recover more missing persons by the army, the NDRF, the Sashastra Seema Bal and other rescue teams.

Meanwhile, preliminary repair work was going on along those parts of the three national highways where damage by landslides was comparatively light, according to Public Works Department sources.

For major damages, tenders have to be floated according to PWD rules, they said.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of Indian Industry North Bengal Zonal Council launched its first phase of Mirik Landslide Relief Operations with trucks sent to the affected area. 

Photographs: MoD/Twitter