West Bengal Government appoints task force for flood reconstruction work in North Bengal

The Government of West Bengal has appointed a State-level Task Force for relief, restoration and reconstruction of flood-affected areas in North Bengal.

The Task Force held its first meeting on Saturday, October 18, 2025; Two senior Ministers of the Government of West Bengal, Moloy Ghatak, Minister of Legal and Judicial Affairs and Minister for Development of North Bengal Udayan Guha along with GTA Chief Executive Anit Thapa and senior officials of the Government of West Bengal were present here.

“The Task Force reviewed ongoing relief measures and discussed immediate and long-term restoration efforts, focusing on housing damage assessment, roads, permanent infrastructure repair, de-soiling and afforestation,” said a press release by the Government of West Bengal.

According to the Darjeeling State Government, 19 relief shelters accommodating 640 people are in operation and distribution of essential supplies is ongoing. “More than 200 damage assessment teams and 21 social assistance camps are assisting with housing and infrastructure damage assessment and reissuing documents,” the statement said.

Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains on October 5 killed more than 30 people and left thousands homeless in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and other parts of North Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the region twice to evaluate the relief and restoration work.

Meanwhile, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista claimed that his convoy was attacked in Darjeeling district on Saturday, October 18, 2025. While stones were thrown at his convoy, one vehicle in the convoy was slightly damaged.

“Today, my convoy was attacked by unidentified assailants in Masdhura near Sukhia Pokhari. Although those cowards attacked me, the force of the attack was directed towards the vehicle right behind me,” Mr Bista said on social media.

The two-term Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Darjeeling said he would not be affected by such attacks. “We are not afraid and such cowardly attacks only boost our morale,” he added.

A senior police officer from Darjeeling said that a case has been registered against an unknown person. Earlier this month, BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh were attacked while visiting flood-affected areas in Jalpaiguri.