Mamata Banerjee announced all bridges in the mountainous region will be thoroughly checked

Darjeeling, Oct 23 : In the wake of bridge collapse in the Darjeeling district, which left 32 people dead, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday announced all bridges in the mountainous region will be thoroughly checked.

"We have decided that all the bridges of Darjeeling will be checked thoroughly as a few days back Darjeeling was hit by an earthquake. So we will check the bridges to see whether they are in proper condition," said Banerjee told reporters here.

"The district administration has worked very effectively in tackling the situation.said Banerjee, who rushed to Darjeeling Sunday after the mishap. "Relief work was done excellently."

Banerjee Sunday announced compensation of Rs.2 lakh each to the families of those killed in this north Bengal district.

"It is a very tragic event and the state government will give a sum of Rs.2 lakh each to the families of the dead," said Banerjee, who visited the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri to meet the affected.

"We will also undertake the responsibility of treatment of the injured," she said. In addition, those with serious injuries will be paid Rs.50,000 each and people with less severe wounds will be given Rs.25,000 each.

The accident left at least 32 dead and 132 injured.

The overburdened British-era wooden suspension bridge on Little Rangeet river in Bijonbari -- headquarters of the Darjeeling Pulbazar development block -- gave way Saturday evening as over 200 people stood on it to listen to speeches of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders like Bimal Gurung in the area, 30 km from Darjeeling town.

--IANS