Balason River Bridge Reopens Amid North Bengal Restoration Efforts

The Hume Pipe bridge over the Balason River in West Bengal has reopened, restoring vital connections between Mirik and Siliguri. Amid ongoing relief work, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced financial aid for flood-hit families and personally reviewed rehabilitation efforts across affected areas in North Bengal.

In a significant development for the recovery of North Bengal, the alternative Hume Pipe bridge over the Balason River in Dudhia, Darjeeling district, has been reopened to traffic. This move comes weeks after heavy rains and landslides devastated the region, facilitating crucial connectivity between Mirik and Siliguri. The reopening ensures the smooth movement of vehicles and vital relief supplies, offering much-needed hope to the affected residents.

Kaushik Chakraborty, the Block Development Officer of Kurseong, confirmed that vehicles up to 10 tonnes are allowed on the bridge, ensuring safe transit amidst ongoing repair efforts. "The bridge has been opened," he said, noting the current weight restrictions. "Two-way traffic movement has been allowed," Chakraborty informed ANI.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been actively overseeing the relief efforts, revealing that 27 individuals, including a Nepali and a Bhutanese national, lost their lives during the calamity. After visiting flood-hit areas in Darjeeling, Banerjee pledged Rs 1.2 lakh in financial aid per family for reconstruction. She has been personally visiting affected areas to assess the damage and ensure comprehensive support reaches those in need. Crucially, the CM's ongoing visits are part of coordinated efforts to restore normalcy and extend state support where it's most required.

(With inputs from agencies.)