Death and Devastation in Darjeeling: 23 Killed as Landslides Strike After Heavy Rain

Severe landslides in Darjeeling have resulted in at least 23 fatalities, with many areas isolated and hundreds of tourists stranded. The National Disaster Response Force is conducting rescue operations.

At least 23 individuals, including children, lost their lives as relentless rain triggered severe landslides in Darjeeling hills and nearby areas on Sunday. The disaster swept away homes, isolated villages, and stranded hundreds of tourists. According to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local district administrations, fatalities were reported from several locations, including Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, and Mirik Basti.

North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha described the situation as alarming. He noted that the death toll had reached 20 by evening but warned it could rise. Anit Thapa, chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), stated that landslides occurred at 35 locations across the region. Officials described these landslides as the worst since 2015 when nearly 40 people died in Darjeeling.

Landslide Impact and Rescue Efforts

The NDRF reported that 18 people died in Darjeeling, with Mirik being the hardest hit area with 11 fatalities. Seven more deaths occurred in the Darjeeling subdivision. In a separate operation in Nagrakata, Jalpaiguri district, five bodies were recovered from debris. The total number of deaths across Mirik, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri stands at 23.

Entire slopes collapsed, highways were buried under mud, and communication lines were severed. The Mirik-Sukhiapokhri road remains blocked. Many tourists visiting for Durga Puja found themselves stranded due to the chaos. Families from Kolkata and other regions were forced indoors as torrential rain battered the hills since Saturday night.

Government Response and Warnings

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a high-level meeting at Nabanna and opened a 24x7 control room. She announced plans to visit North Bengal on October 6 to assess the situation and promised compensation for victims. Banerjee noted that over 300 mm of rainfall was recorded in just 12 hours, causing severe flooding and landslides.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the loss of lives due to a bridge mishap in Darjeeling. "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 said in a post on X.

Historical Context and Future Precautions

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an alert for extremely heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan West Bengal until October 6. It warned of more landslides due to saturated soil conditions. A red alert was issued for Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri districts, while an orange alert was sounded for Darjeeling district.

This disaster echoes past tragedies like the October 1968 deluge when nearly 1,000 people perished. From the devastating slides of 1899 to recent cloudburst-induced disasters, Darjeeling's fragile terrain has been repeatedly reshaped by nature's fury.

Temporary relief camps have been established with NGOs' help, while many families have been relocated to safer areas. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista requested that the landslides be declared a state-level disaster. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi urged the Centre to assist the state.

The state government has kept emergency control rooms on high alert in Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri. Additional teams of civil defence and state disaster forces are on standby as authorities continue monitoring the situation closely.

With inputs from PTI