The week in photos and a report

I am glad to inform you that in the 8 months that STH has been online, we have grown. Thanks to many people who volunteer their time, effort and even money, I do receive photographs and reports from many parts of the district (and also Sikkim). We will (from 01Jul08) also receive accurate rainfall and temperature data on a daily basis for Darjeeling town at least.

It is just as well; too long have we kept silent about a cancerous hazard which will, in the foreseeable future, make living difficult this part of the world. It is therefore important that we raise awareness about this little known disaster, firstly amongst ourselves and then in the government and NGOs so that concerted preventive action may be initiated against this form of natural disaster.

Placed above are photographs sent by students and ordinary people who are STH reporters in the field...

Placed below is a summary of the landslide situation from Anugyalaya (www.anugyalayadarjeeling.org)

A).
GP: Suruk-Samthar

Village/Place: Upper Chota Suruk

Casualties: Out of 1 km road constructed through NREGS, 100 m road damaged.
One house vulnerable, house members need to be shifted.
B).
G.P: Samalbong GP

Booth: Tanyang

Village: Upper Tanyang

Casualities: One house hit by landlslide from above. Completely damaged.
No loss of life. Furnitures, clothes & other items destroyed
Documents, some clothes & necesssary utensils saved through FSK.

> Besides landslides in Kalimpong, the District hospital of Darjeeling have also been damaged by the heavy rainfall of yesterday.

> The joints of one of the block of the hospital has cracked. The floor of that block has submerged. Just below that block are residents of nearly 10 houses.
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My sincere thanks to all the contributors of STH.


praful rao