At least 19 people have lost their lives in a massive landslide that struck West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, following incessant heavy rain through the night. The disaster has caused widespread destruction, cutting off major roads and isolating several hill towns in North Bengal.
The worst-affected area is Mirik, where the Dudia Iron Bridge, a key connector between Mirik and Kurseong has collapsed under the force of the debris flow. In one of the videos from the site that has now gone viral, the bridge appears snapped in the middle, with nearby houses and shops along the riverbank swept away by mud and rubble.
A landslide was reported from Hussain Khola, along National Highway 110 near Kurseong, effectively severing the main route linking Siliguri and Darjeeling. The landslide has buried roads under thick layers of mud, from small villages to national highways.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed Darjeeling and its neighbouring districts Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar, under a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall until Sunday morning. A well-marked low-pressure area over sub-Himalayan West Bengal is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rain across the region until Monday.
The IMD bulletin warned that rain would continue across Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri till Monday morning, with light to moderate showers likely at most places thereafter. In Jalpaiguri’s Malbazar, several areas have already been submerged, while water levels in the Teesta, Mal, and other hill rivers are flowing well above the danger mark, triggering a flood-like situation.
Authorities said that the heavy rainfall has cut off road connectivity to Sikkim, leaving hundreds of tourists and locals stranded. The landslides have particularly affected Mirik, Sukhia Pokhari, and surrounding regions, where arterial routes connecting Darjeeling to Siliguri and Bengal to Sikkim have been blocked.
Rescue and relief operations are underway, led by the police, disaster management teams, and local administration. The iconic Darjeeling toy train service has been suspended, while popular tourist spots such as Tiger Hill and Rock Garden have been closed as a precautionary measure. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has urged visitors to stay indoors and monitor official weather advisories.
Darjeeling MP and BJP leader Raju Bista expressed deep anguish over the devastation. “I am extremely anguished to learn about the massive damages caused due to extremely heavy rainfall in many parts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. There have been deaths, loss of properties, and damage to infrastructure. I am taking stock of the situation and in touch with the relevant authorities,” Bista wrote on X. He added that the region has suffered “severe loss of lives, property, and infrastructure” and assured that he was coordinating with both central and state authorities to expedite rescue efforts.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to move to safer locations as the situation remains fluid, with heavy rainfall forecast to persist through Monday morning.
