CM Mamata slams Centre for no assistance, promises sooner disburse of Rs 5 lakh govt aid to North Bengal disaster victims' families

As relentless rains and landslides continue to ravage North Bengal, claiming over 30 lives and leaving thousands homeless in several areas of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Mirik, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gears up for another urgent visit to the disaster-battered North Bengal, just 4 days after her last assessment. With the death toll climbing above 30 and infrastructure in tatters—bridges collapsed, roads washed away, and homes buried under debris—Banerjee has earlier announced to deliver Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia payments to the families of the deceased, along with job opportunities like Homeguard positions for kin. Today, she promises swift disbursement to ease their unimaginable grief. This isn't mere rhetoric; it's a hands-on leader rolling up her sleeves amid criticism from opposition parties accusing her of prioritizing festivities over floods, as she has scheduled administrative meetings to fast-track rehabilitation and reconstruction, turning despair into determined recovery.

Sharpening her critique against the Narendra Modi-led central government, Banerjee says that no assistance has been given for the North Bengal disaster, while highlighting a staggering backlog of funds for the 100 days work under MGNREGA scheme—pending for over four years—that has crippled rural employment and development efforts. "Why they will give assistance for North Bengal disaster when they've withheld even the basics MGNREGA funds?" she questioned, pointing fingers at what she calls an "economic blockade" on West Bengal This federal friction underscores a broader battle for resources, as the state shoulders the burden alone.

On a proactive note, Banerjee spotlighted the state machinery's tireless push to normalize life, with repair works in Mirik-Darjeeling accelerating at full throttle—emergency fixes on vital routes like Hill Cart Road and Pankhabari Road already restoring access, and pledges to rebuild all damaged bridges, houses, and tea gardens within weeks, including a new Dudhiya bridge in just 15 days. Returning to North Bengal a mere four days after her previous visit, she's set to oversee relief camps stocked with essentials for a month, urging calm amid rumors and ensuring low-lying residents are relocated safely. In this symphony of solidarity, Banerjee's appeal echoes: "We're standing together—government and people—to conquer this crisis," blending empathy with action to rebuild not just structures, but shattered spirits in the hills.