• Source:JND
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After Darjeeling was ravaged by rain-triggered landslides, things continue to look grim for North Bengal, which has received a flood warning from Bhutan. The neighbouring nation, situated in the northern part of West Bengal, alerted India to the overflowing Tala Hydropower Dam. A strong gush of water downstream will flood the areas of Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar. Both these districts have already received heavy rainfall in the past few days, and several areas are already waterlogged. 

The official order read, “The National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) received information from the Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) that Tala Hydropower Dam gates failed to open and river water is overflowing the dam.” The hydroelectric power station is located on the Wangchu River in Bhutan, which is called Raidak once it enters India. It is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the country.

 
 
 
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The Bhutanese officials also alerted the state government of West Bengal to prepare for the eventualities. 

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Set To Visit Darjeeling

The warning from Bhutan comes at a critical time when Darjeeling suffered widespread destruction of life and property owing to continuous rainfall. As many as 17 people have died in landslides triggered by the relentless rainfall. Authorities are continuously monitoring the flood-like situation as NDRF teams continue the rescue work in the affected regions.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit the flood-hit areas tomorrow on Monday, October 6. “I am deeply worried and concerned that several areas in both North Bengal and South Bengal have been flooded due to sudden huge rains within a few hours last night, as well as due to the rush of excessive river waters in our State from outside,” she wrote on her official X (formerly Twitter) handle. 

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Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to all the victims who had perished in the floods of Darjeeling. "The situation in Darjeeling and (the) surrounding areas is being closely monitored in the wake of heavy rains and landslides. We are committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected," he wrote on X.