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At least 24 people were killed and more than 60 grievously injured on Saturday, when an old wooden footbridge collapsed about 70 feet into a hilly river near Bijonbari, about 35 km from Darjeeling. Locals said there could be many trapped, as there were 100-150 people on the 40-feet bridge watching a programme where Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung was delivering his speech.
"Till now we have information of about 24 people dead," said Darjeeling DM S Mohan adding darkness and steep terrain was making rescue work very difficult. The bridge over Chhota Rangeet river joined the Chungtung tea estate with Bijonbari and Darjeeling. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was on her way back from Delhi to Kolkata, announced an ex-gratia compensation of `2 lakh for those dead, Government sources said Mamata might visit the affected area on Sunday with Union Minister Sudip Bandopadhyay.
"Till now we have information of about 24 people dead," said Darjeeling DM S Mohan adding darkness and steep terrain was making rescue work very difficult. The bridge over Chhota Rangeet river joined the Chungtung tea estate with Bijonbari and Darjeeling. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was on her way back from Delhi to Kolkata, announced an ex-gratia compensation of `2 lakh for those dead, Government sources said Mamata might visit the affected area on Sunday with Union Minister Sudip Bandopadhyay.
