Bengal

XKolkata/Jalpaiguri: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday handed over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of 23 people who died in one of the worst natural disasters in North Bengal in recent times, while personally touring flood and landslide-hit areas to assess the damage and direct relief operations.

Arriving at Hasimara Air Force Station by helicopter around 1:40 pm, Banerjee travelled by road to several affected areas, including Telipara, Looksan Mor and Nagrakata, where she met families of the deceased, distributed compensation cheques and inspected damaged bridges, roads and relief camps. At Looksan, she handed cheques to four families who had suffered major losses.

The Chief Minister said 23 people had died so far—18 in the hills of Darjeeling, Mirik and Kalimpo

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