Kolkata | October 8, 2025:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has declined the demand to declare the recent landslides in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, along with floods in the Terai and Dooars regions, as a “State Level Disaster”. The request, made by BJP MP Raju Bista, sought urgent recognition of the severe impact caused by heavy rainfall on October 4 and 5.
In her response, the Chief Minister questioned the logic behind declaring every unfortunate incident a disaster. She cited examples such as the Mahakumbh tragedy, and recent natural calamities in Manipur, Assam, and Uttarakhand, none of which were declared disasters despite significant loss of life and infrastructure.
However, the recent incidents in North Bengal clearly fall under the categories of landslides and floods, both of which are recognized disasters under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. If officially declared a disaster, the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) — which has an allocation of ₹1,331.20 crore for FY 2025–26 — could be utilized for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Raju Bista, the BJP MP from Darjeeling, criticized the state’s stance, highlighting the urgent need for compensation and aid. He also referred to the Teesta flood of 2023, which similarly was not declared a disaster, leaving victims without adequate support.
