The Opposition BJP has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being “insensitive” for taking part in the Durga Puja Carnival at Kolkata’s Red Road on Sunday evening, hours after incessant rains and landslides left at least 20 people dead in the hills of Darjeeling.

Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee had announced that she would visit the disaster-hit region on Monday, and described the situation as “grave”.

“Today is not a happy day. Our Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, should have reached North Bengal today itself. But we see that she will participate in the Durga Puja carnival. In these difficult times, there was no need for the carnival,” state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said at a press conference, adding that he would leave for North Bengal on Monday.

“In the past 14 years, there has not been any change in the drainage system of North Bengal. There can be incessant rain. Water can come from Bhutan. Several districts are flooded. It is clear that the municipalities led by the government are incompetent,” the BJP leader added.

He also said that BJP MP Biplab Deb spoke to Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for the safe return of stranded tourists from West Bengal and Tripura.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari called the chief minister “insensitive and irresponsible”. “The NDRF has already begun relief work. The weather is very bad. It is a huge disaster, and the area has become isolated. I heard that the chief secretary had held a virtual meeting with the administration in North Bengal in the morning, but the state government has no role at the ground level. We see the entire state government is busy with the Durga Puja Carnival on Red Road. At this time, better coordination is required between the state and the central agency, district magistrates, and the chief secretary should lead this,” he said.

“The Centre has already sent five NDRF teams, which have saved thousands of lives. Our chief minister is not a sensitive person. This was proved during the flooding in Kolkata. Her priority is mela, games, and celebration. She does not know her responsibilities. She should be ashamed of sitting in the carnival while North Bengal is facing a crisis. What will she do by going there tomorrow? The NDRF is on the ground doing everything. Even the Prime Minister has offered his condolences,” the senior BJP leader added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to BJP MP from Darjeeling Raju Bista and took stock of the situation.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in Darjeeling due to heavy rains… Teams of the NDRF have reached the spot, and more teams are on standby to join them as and when needed. The BJP workers are also providing necessary assistance to the people in need,” Shah wrote on X.