Sikkim: Heavy rains of past few days have wreaked havoc in Beng ward under Khamdong GPU causing damage to agricultural crops and properties of the villagers. A major landslide broke out Wednesday night in the area, it was informed.
Local panchayats led by panchayat president Songmit Lepcha visited the slide-affected area Thursday morning and took stock of the damages caused to the property, livestock and crops of the villagers.
They appealed the Sikkim government to depute a high-level team for assessing the damages and compensation for the victims.
Speaking with the press, the panchayat president shared the landslide has blocked the approach road to Beng village from Thangsing side besides damaging vegetables, cash crops like oranges and water supply lines.
A taxi and a bike were also buried by the mudslide, she said adding no injuries or loss of life was reported.
It was also reported that a farmer had around 25 pigs and out of them, only three pigs survived the mudslide, said Lepcha.
She informed that the local BDO and officials from Roads & Bridges department visited the spot and took a report of the damages.
Sikkim Farmers After Two Years Of Pandemic
Meanwhile, politician-social worker G.M. Gurung from Rangpo, in a press statement, mentioned that the incessant rains have trigged mudslides causing partial to heavy damage to lands, agriculture, vehicles and properties at Beng ward.
We appeal the authorities to give compensation at the earliest and initiate relief measures for the affected villagers of Beng, he said.
Gurung shared that villagers of Beng are simple, hardworking farmers and depend on vegetable cultivation and animal husbandry for their livelihood.
He urged the government should also extend special measures so that the farmers of Beng can recover and resume their farming activities at the earliest.
The farmers suffered for two years during the Covid pandemic and now another misfortune has hit them with the mudslides and rains washing away their crops, he added.
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