00:00At least 18 people were killed in floods and landslides triggered by relentless rain in
00:08the eastern hill region of Darjeeling, in India's West Bengal state since last week. The floods
00:14swept away homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure, causing extensive damage to
00:20crops and destroying more than 30 hectares of a tea plantation. Several people remained missing
00:26on Monday as relief and restoration efforts began, with authorities warning that the death
00:31toll could rise as reports continued to come in from remote areas.
00:56Highway traffic was disrupted when part of an iron bridge over the Balasan River, linking
01:04Siliguri with the hill town of Mirik, collapsed, while several other roads catered to the river.
01:11Large amounts of debris blocked roads, making it difficult for rescuers to reach remote areas.
01:16Highway traffic was disrupted when part of an iron bridge over the Balasan River, linking
01:21Siliguri with the hill town of Mirik, collapsed, while several other roads caved in. Large amounts
01:27of debris blocked roads, making it difficult for rescuers to reach remote areas. Other than
01:33Darjeeling, the districts of Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar were among the worst hit areas,
01:39and more rain is expected this week. Authorities said as of Monday, the death toll in the West
01:45Bengal state rose to 28.
