New Delhi: Torrential rain and landslides wreaked havoc in Darjeeling and other parts of North Bengal on Sunday. At least 17 people have died, and relief and rescue operations are still underway.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that she will visit the affected areas on Monday to assess the situation and oversee relief efforts.
“I am deeply worried and concerned that several areas in both North Bengal and South Bengal have been flooded due to sudden, intense rainfall within a few hours last night, as well as due to a rush of excessive river water entering our state from outside,” the chief minister said in a post on X.
Darjeeling, which is currently experiencing a post-Durga Puja tourist rush from Kolkata and other parts of Bengal, has been severely affected. The North Bengal region has been placed under a red alert, with the weather department forecasting extremely heavy rainfall. A key piece of infrastructure—the Dudhia iron bridge, which connects district towns and tourist hotspots such as Mirik and Kurseong has also collapsed due to the relentless downpour.
Mamata assured tourists of safe evacuation and necessary assistance amid the crisis. “We are advising the tourists in North Bengal to stay put where they are till our police evacuate them safely. Rescue costs are ours and tourists need not be anxious,” she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences. “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,” he wrote on X.
“The situation in Darjeeling and surrounding areas is being closely monitored in the wake of heavy rains and landslides. We are committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected,” he added.
In response to worsening conditions, vehicle movement has been restricted on the Siliguri-Darjeeling SH-12 road to ensure public safety.
State headquarters and district administrations have set up 24×7 control rooms, and helpline numbers have been released to assist those affected by the severe weather conditions in North Bengal.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed multiple teams in the rain-battered Mirik area of the Darjeeling subdivision to aid in rescue and relief operations.
Abhishek Roy, additional SP of Kurseong, told ANI that rescue efforts are in full swing. “Seven bodies have already been recovered from the debris. We have information about two more missing individuals. Efforts are underway to locate and recover their bodies,” he said. “The Dilaram–Kurseong road leading to Darjeeling is currently blocked, and Rohini Road is affected due to a landslide at Gourishankar. Only Tindharia Road remains functional, and tourists stranded in Mirik are being evacuated via that route within the next few hours.”
(Eidted by Gitanjali Das)
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