October 6, 2025

A heavy downpour stirred a disaster in West Bengal's beautiful Darjeeling town, turning the hills into a dangerous maze of landslides on Sunday night. The relentless rains triggered deadly landslides that claimed the lives of at least 24 people, leaving many injured and hundreds stranded in the Himalayan foothills. Darjeeling, famous for its tea gardens and scenic views, soon faced chaos as homes were swept away, connecting roads were blocked, and communication lines were broken. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) sprang into action, using creative solutions like temporary zip lines to evacuate stranded people across broken bridges. Key areas like Mirik and Sukhia Pokhari were badly hit. Roadblocks popped up on vital routes, including the road linking Sikkim and the famous highway connecting Darjeeling to Siliguri. Authorities closed popular tourist spots like Tiger Hill and Rock Garden and suspended the charming toy train service to keep visitors safe. Locals and tourists were advised to stay alert and updated on the changing weather and road conditions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took the situation very seriously. She called an emergency meeting Sunday evening and announced her visit to the disaster zones on Monday. "The situation is grave. Due to incessant rain in Bhutan, water has overflowed into North Bengal. This disaster is unfortunate; natural calamities are beyond our control," Banerjee said during a local news channel interview. She added that over 300 mm of rain fell within 12 hours, sparking floods and landslides in at least seven locations. The havoc didn't stop in Darjeeling. Other northern parts of West Bengal, including Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, and Cooch Behar, experienced severe waterlogging. Television images revealed rivers raging fiercely, bridges damaged, and roads washed away. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued serious red and orange alerts for the region, warning of more heavy rains and potential landslides due to saturated soil. The red alert is active for Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri, while Darjeeling remains under orange alert. This natural fury has rattled the region, but rescue teams remain tightly on the job, battling time and weather to save lives. Meanwhile, locals watch anxiously, hoping for relief as the rains and turmoil continue.

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Tags: West bengal, Landslides, Heavy rain, Darjeeling, Ndrf rescue, Floods,