Govt to assess quake damage in Darjeeling

Power lines were snapped in Darjeeling and Kalimpong where this evening’s tremor was mainly felt and administration has been instructed to take necessary steps, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

“Darjeeling district magistrate has already been asked to assess whether there has been any damage to any building or household in the hills,” Ms. Banerjee said, adding that necessary assistance will be provided in case of any damage.

“There is no report of any casualty so far. Darjeeling and Kalimpong are now in total darkness,” Ms. Banerjee said.

“We have alerted all district magistrates throughout the state,” she said.

A control centre has been opened at the West Bengal Police Control at the state secretariat as also at the city police headquarters at Lalbazar here, the chief minister said.

She said that the Jalpaiguri district magistrate could not be contacted and added that possibly there was some problem in communication lines.

“There is no need to panic. I have asked all DMs to fan out and find out whether there has been any problem,” she said, adding that some other districts have also been asked to open control rooms.

In Darjeeling, window panes of some tall buildings were shattered under the impact of the tremor as electricity supply went off plunging the bustling hill town in darkness.