Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday expressed concern over the loss of lives in West Bengal’s Darjeeling due to landslides, and the situation in rain-battered Sikkim, assuring all possible assistance to tide over the crisis. ”We are extremely distressed by the devastation and loss of lives in Darjeeling and elsewhere in North Bengal due to heavy rains,” Sarma said in a post on X. The toll in the devastating landslides in Darjeeling district has risen to 24, as disaster management personnel continued rescue operations on Monday, with several people still missing and thousands of tourists stranded in cut-off hill pockets. He added, “On behalf of the people of Assam, we are ready to provide any support to the Government of West Bengal in rescue and relief operations.”
The Assam Chief Minister also voiced concern over the situation in neighbouring Sikkim, where torrential rain has caused floods and landslides over the past few days. “The people of Assam stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Sikkim in this hour of crisis,” he wrote, tagging Sikkim Chief Minister PS Tamang Golay. Sarma assured that his government is “committed to extend any possible assistance” to help both states recover from the severe weather damage. Officials said continuous rainfall in Sikkim has damaged infrastructure and disrupted connectivity, compounding the challenges for local authorities already engaged in relief efforts. Rescue teams remain on high alert as forecasts warn of more rain in the coming days.
