Governor visits Dudhia, calls for unified disaster relief

West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose on Monday visited Dudhia, the site where a major bridge collapse cut off Mirik’s road connectivity with Siliguri, following days of relentless rainfall and widespread landslides across the hills.

During his visit, the Governor interacted with disaster-affected families, listened to their concerns, and assured them of every possible support from both the central and state administrations.

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Speaking to reporters at the site, Dr Bose said: “This is not the time for a blame game. It is the time to extend wholehearted support to the affected people. We must all come together — the Centre, the state, and all stakeholders — to carry out coordinated and effective relief operations.”

He emphasised the need for unity and cooperation in managing the crisis, urging all agencies to work beyond political and bureaucratic boundaries to help those suffering due to the disaster. “Our priority must be to ensure safety, restore communication, and rehabilitate those who have lost their homes and livelihoods,” he said.

Dr Bose added that his visit aimed to assess the ground situation firsthand and to explore possibilities for a long-term solution to prevent such disasters in the future. “I have come here to take stock of the situation at ground zero and to identify sustainable measures for addressing such calamities,” the Governor noted.

The collapse of the bridge at Dudhia has caused significant hardship for residents and relief workers, as the route serves as a vital link between Siliguri and Mirik. Engineers have been instructed to construct a temporary bridge to restore connectivity at the earliest, while restoration work on a new bridge already under construction is being expedited.

Local residents, who met the Governor, expressed relief that the situation was being directly reviewed at the highest level and hoped that their plight would be addressed with urgency.