2 hrs ago
Torsha River Erosion Leaves Cooch Behar Families Homeless
The Torsha river washed away many homes in part of Cooch Behar town.
About 10 to 15 houses were lost, along with toilets and other structures.
The affected families had been living on land beside the river and embankment.
They had to sleep outside after losing their homes.
A local Bharatiya Janata Party leader said the party gave them tarpaulins and essential items.
Residents want protection from more erosion and safe places to live.
In a separate incident, a driver at a tea estate in Jalpaiguri district was killed by a rock.
The rock slipped while he was resting on a hill, and doctors later declared him dead.
The Torsha river swept away about 10 to 15 houses in ward 16 of Cooch Behar town on Sunday.
Toilets and other residential structures were also destroyed, forcing affected families to spend the night outdoors.
The homes stood on a riverine ‘char’ beside an embankment and road intended to protect the town from flooding.
Residents requested urgent erosion-control measures, safe shelter and rehabilitation as they feared further destruction.
Separately, Kurti tea estate driver Amrit Sarkar, 31, died after a slipping rock crushed him in Jalpaiguri district on Monday.
- Who
- Families living in ward 16 of Cooch Behar town were affected; Amrit Sarkar, a 31-year-old tea-estate driver, died in a separate incident.
- What
- The Torsha river eroded away about 10 to 15 houses, while a slipping rock crushed Sarkar to death.
- Where
- The erosion occurred along the Torsha river in ward 16 of Cooch Behar town. The fatal rock incident occurred at Kurti tea estate in Nagrakata block of Jalpaiguri district.
- When
- The river erosion began on Sunday afternoon; Sarkar died after the rock incident on Monday.
- Why
- Residents said the erosion began as river levels receded after the monsoon swelling; the rock suddenly slipped while Sarkar was resting on it.
Key facts
- Affected area
- Ward 16, Cooch Behar town
- Homes lost
- Approximately 10 to 15 houses
- River
- Torsha
- Immediate assistance
- Tarpaulins and essential items were provided by the Bharatiya Janata Party, according to Biraj Bose.
- Residents’ requests
- Erosion-control measures, safe shelter and rehabilitation
- Separate death
- Amrit Sarkar, 31, was crushed by a rock at Kurti tea estate.
- Fatality location
- Nagrakata block, Jalpaiguri district
Quotes
Sabitri Barman
An affected resident whose home was destroyed by the Torsha river.
“We were living in a tin-roofed house on the ‘char’ beside the embankment. We had also built a toilet there; everything was eroded away by the river yesterday. We are now staying under the open sky.”
telegraphindia.com
An affected resident
A resident speaking on behalf of families affected by the erosion.
“We want immediate measures to check erosion and arrangements for safe shelter and rehabilitation of the affected families.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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