At least 20 people, including children, have lost their lives, and several others were injured as heavy rains triggered massive landslides across the Mirik and Darjeeling hills in West Bengal on Sunday, sweeping away homes, disrupting road networks, isolating villages, and stranding hundreds of tourists.
Reports compiled by the NDRF and district administration confirm fatalities in multiple locations, including Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon (Mechi), Nagrakata, and the Mirik Lake area.
‘Alarming’ Situation
North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha described the loss of life as tragic and termed the situation “alarming,” telling the media, “As of now, the death toll is 20. It is likely to rise. I am on my way to the affected areas.”
According to NDRF officials, Mirik has been the worst-hit, with at least 11 deaths reported, while seven injured individuals have been rescued from the area. In Darjeeling, seven people have died, and rescue operations are ongoing, assisted by local administration, police, and disaster response teams.
Darjeeling Sub-Divisional Officer Richard Lepcha confirmed, “Seven deaths have been reported due to a major landslide in Darjeeling subdivision triggered by heavy rainfall since last night. Rescue and relief operations are underway.”
CM Describes Flood As ‘Grave’
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the flood situation in North Bengal as “grave” and said she would personally visit the region on Monday to assess the damage.
Speaking to a Bengali television channel, she noted that heavy rainfall in Bhutan had led to overflowing waters into North Bengal.
“This disaster is unfortunate — natural calamities are beyond our control. I have been monitoring the situation since 6 am and held virtual meetings with officials from five affected districts along with the chief secretary,” she said.
Banerjee added that more than 300 mm of rain in just 12 hours caused severe flooding and landslides at seven locations, comparing the situation to the intense flooding Kolkata experienced last month.
She said she would travel to Siliguri on Monday afternoon with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant after the Durga Puja Carnival in Kolkata, which involves over 100 puja committees.
Thousands of tourists remain stranded due to road blockages and landslides. The CM urged visitors not to panic and assured them of arrangements for safe evacuation. “Hotels must not overcharge them. Their safety is our responsibility,” she said.
Banerjee also announced that families of those killed would receive government compensation and a job for one family member, although the compensation amount has not been specified.
PM, President Condole
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the deaths, stating that the situation in Darjeeling and the surrounding areas is being closely monitored.
In a post on X, he said, “Deeply pained by the loss of lives due to a bridge mishap in Darjeeling. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. We are committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected.”
Social media visuals reveal extensive road damage covered with debris, highlighting the scale of disruption. Rescue teams from the State Disaster Management Department and Darjeeling district administration, along with local volunteers, have been deployed to aid recovery efforts.
President Droupadi Murmu also expressed condolences on X, offering prayers for successful rescue operations and a speedy recovery for the injured.
“The tragic loss of lives due to heavy rain and landslides in Darjeeling, West Bengal, is distressing. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the success of rescue and relief operations and wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” she said.
IMD Issues Red Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, until October 6, warning of further landslides and road blockages due to saturated soil conditions.
The NDRF reported that road connectivity remains severely affected across the Darjeeling district and North Sikkim, with an iron bridge connecting Siliguri to the Mirik-Darjeeling route damaged, cutting off access to several areas. One village in Mirik remains marooned due to flooding and blocked roads.
(With inputs from IBNS)
