West Bengal CM accuses Centre of discriminating against flood-hit people of Northern Bengal

At a time when at least 100 people are still missing and the death toll is mounting due to the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that occurred at the Lhonak Lake in the Chungthang area of North Sikkim, resulting in the swelling up of the Teesta river basin, which had severely affected the hill regions of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in North Bengal, besides devastating large parts of Sikkim, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Centre of discriminating against the affected people of North Bengal despite the gravity of the disaster and the number of deaths reported in the state due to the floods.

The West Bengal Chief Minister demanded equal treatment from the Centre and asked for help from the Centre for disaster management.

“I am stunned by the central discrimination against our affected people of Darjeeling and Kalimpong and North Bengal, despite the gravity of disaster and number of deaths there too. We are not beggars and we are certainly for Sikkim, but we want equality of treatment and non- discrimination in matters relating to central help in disaster management, “CM Mamata Banerjee wrote on X.

The Chief Minister further said that her government is helping the Indian Army authorities and the Sikkim government in this time of crisis and will continue to work with the people of Sikkim.

She added that the West Bengal government is working 24×7 to save and provide help to the people. The West Bengal Government has already announced Rs. 25 crore assistance to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in the Darjeeling Hills.

“From the night of the flashflood occurrence, I have been working 24×7 with my entire administration to save people from further distress, and have rushed in all help, including Rs. 25 crore assistance to GTA in the hills. Ministers and senior IAS officers have been dispatched and teams are on spot even now, “Mamata Banerjee on X.

Meanwhile, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said that the Chief Secretary of the state is in talks with the Chief Secretary of West Bengal regarding the situation.

Edited by – Haynashree Narjary

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