Bhutan should compensate for North Bengal floods, says Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (October 13, 2025) claimed that water flowing down from adjoining Bhutan caused floods in North Bengal and sought compensation from the neighbouring country.

“We have faced losses due to water coming down from Bhutan... We want them to give us compensation,” Ms. Banerjee said. Over the past few days Ms. Banerjee has held waters from rivers of Bhutan responsible for the North Bengal floods but this was the first time she has sought compensation from the country.

The Chief Minister who was visiting flood-affected Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri reiterated the demand of setting up Indo-Bhutan Joint River Commission.

“I have been insisting on setting up an Indo-Bhutan Joint River Commission for some time now and I demand that West Bengal be made part of it. Under our pressure, there’s a meeting scheduled on the 16th of this month and our officers will attend that,” Ms. Banerjee said.

Torrential rain lashed Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts on the intervening night of October 4 and 5, triggering major landslides as the region received 261 mm of rainfall within 12 hours. More than 30 deaths have been reported in both the districts.

Speaking to flood-affected locals, the Chief Minister said that they should register their names in the camps and tell that their houses have been damaged. “We will conduct a survey of the houses that have been washed away once the floodwaters recede completely and will take measures to rebuild them,” Ms. Banerjee said. She added that arrangements have been made in the relief camps for people who have lost vital documents such as Aadhaar card, PAN card, land titles so that the State government can reissue duplicate copies.

While the next of the kin of the deceased have been given a compensation of ₹5 lakh along with a job as home guard, the Chief Minister said that houses will be constructed under Banglar Baari scheme.

She expressed her displeasure with the Central government saying that no funds are being allocated to the State for dealing with the natural disaster. “We have to do everything. Delhi does not pay a single penny,” she said.

This is Chief Minister’s second trip to North Bengal to oversee flood relief.