Devastation in North Bengal

North Bengal is struggling after a catastrophic disaster caused by nonstop torrential rain. Some hilly areas, including the popular tourist spot Mirik, received record-breaking rainfall. Rivers in the region are now flowing dangerously above the red-alert level.

As a result, the human loss is heartbreaking. Officials have confirmed 20 deaths so far. Moreover, floodwater has entered forests and submerged many villages. Thus, areas like Alipurduar and Naxalbari are badly waterlogged.

Wildlife has also suffered. Hence, elephants, bison, and deer have died in the floods. As the rain continues, accordingly the suffering of local people keeps getting worse.

Infrastructure Collapse and Rescue Challenges in North Bengal

In Addition, critical infrastructure has collapsed under pressure. So, NH-10 and other major roads are now dislodged. Moreover, the Bengal Killer Bridge and the Dudia Bridge have already fallen. Meteorologists are calling this a “black swan” disaster because of its extreme and unexpected nature.

Consequently, a high-level disaster management team has reached the area. However, rescue operations are struggling due to blocked roads and massive flooding.

The Role of Illegal Construction and Negligence

According to the sources, the unprecedented rainfall is the immediate cause of the disaster. However, many people are now asking whether long-term systemic failures made the situation worse.

Deforestation and Encroachment:
Illegal tree cutting has continued for years in dense forests, including inside the protected Gorumara National Park. How did the perpetrators manage to destroy forest land without being stopped?

Unregulated Construction:
Hotels, motels, and homestays have been built rapidly across ecologically sensitive zones. Most of these projects ignored environmental rules and caused serious damage to the ecosystem. If anybody crosses the Gorumara National Park by car or bus near Mal Bazar, the mushrooming hotels and villas will certainly draw the attention.

These illegal activities have gone on for a long time. The administration’s silence raises serious concerns. It is hard to believe that both local authorities and the headquarters were completely unaware of such widespread violations. Such casual and deliberate negligence resonates the eternal truth,  when a political party is in opposition, it shows big dreams to the people. But once it comes to power, it forgets those promises. Instead, it often turns to ruthless tactics and becomes the mastermind behind public extortion.

Recurring Disaster and Lack of Preparedness

The Meteorological Department had already issued a red alert. The Bhutan Government had sent caution signals.  Shockingly, a similar disaster struck North Bengal just last year. We have cunningly termed it as Man-Made Disaster.

We can shift the blame to the others. Perhaps, we forget our prime responsibility. The Government owns the state, so as its citizens. So such blame shifting may work for sometime, but not in the long run.

This reminds the famous quote of Abraham Lincoln, “You can fool all of the people some of time; you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

This raises a serious question about preparedness.

1. Did authorities take any preventive measures?
2. Was the bridge that collapsed today repaired after the previous incident?
3. Why don’t we really focus on the routine maintenance works?
4. Why do we fail to take preventive action?
5. Does the local administration visit the important infrastructures on regular basis?

The evidence clearly suggests the answer is no.

The contrast is painfully ironic.  The focus of the West Bengal Government becomes crystal clear. While North Bengal suffers, the state’s attention remained fixed on the glamorous Durga Puja carnival on Red Road. The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attends,  even as the tragedy unfolded.