Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 9 (ANI): BJP leader Dilip Ghosh took a jibe at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in view of the ongoing disaster in Darjeeling, claiming that despite such a tragedy, no TMC leader reached the area.

Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the area after 2-3 days.

He also mentioned the attack by locals on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Shankar Ghosh.

'It is the responsibility of the government to provide relief and security to the people, but the CM visited the area 2-3 days after the tragedy struck. Before her, our MLAs and MPs reached out. Our tribal MPs went to meet the tribals who were affected by these floods and landslides, but they were attacked by Bangladeshi infiltrators, who are sitting there under the protection of the TMC... Our MPs were attacked because TMC doesn't want to be exposed,' Dilip Ghosh said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday visited the flood and landslides-affected areas in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

Kiren Rijiju inspected the losses and interacted with the affected people in the area. He was accompanied by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista. Rijiju also urged the state government to 'step up' its relief measures, asking the TMC government to map the disaster and take measures to rehabilitate the affected people.

'From what we have seen so far and as per reports, the impact of the rains in Darjeeling has been huge. There has been an immense loss of life and property. Local representatives and administration are doing all they can, but the state government needs to step up its relief measures. The CM came to Siliguri to meet the victims of the disaster, but we want the state government to map the disaster... Those affected by the disaster, who have lost their livelihood and homes, should be provided relief and rehabilitated. This will be a challenge,' Rijiju said.

On Darjeeling's situation, at least 18 people were reported to be killed as incessant rain wreaked havoc in West Bengal's north on Saturday night and early Sunday, the district authorities confirmed on Monday.

The authorities noted that 11 people were killed in heavy rains in the tourist town of Mirik till October 5. In Jorebunglow, four people were killed, while in Sukhia Pokhari, two people were killed, and in Darjeeling Sadar, one person passed away in the heavy rain that battered the state. (ANI)