Siliguri: A total 14 persons were killed and six were missing in a series of landslides triggered by incessant rains in the Darjeeling hills in the wee hours on July 8 and more bodies are feared buried under the debris.

District magistrate H Mohon said that efforts to locate the missing were being impeded by the rains, which coupled with inaccessible roads was affecting the relief and rescue operations.

He said 12 bodies were recovered from Gayabari and two from Dakhale bustee in Kurseong sub-division by rescue teams comprising the district administration, police and local people.

The landslides spread over Darjeeling district cut off the entire hill area, landlocked state of Sikkim and parts of Dooars from the rest of the country, he said.

Assistant district magistrate R Ranjit has rushed to Gayabari to supervise rescue and relief measures. Sub divisional officer of Kalimpong was given charge of the operation in his subdivision, he added.

PTI