Continuous exremely heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has plunged large parts of North Bengal into crisis. In the hills, Darjeeling has witnessed landslides, road collapses and a bridge disaster, while the plains of Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri face severe flooding threats as rivers swell. At least 14 deaths have been reported so far, with rescue operations underway.
Bridge Collapse and Landslides Cut Off Darjeeling
In Mirik, a key iron bridge collapsed following a night of torrential downpour, killing at least six people according to initial reports. Multiple landslides have cut off connectivity between Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim.
A major landslide occurred near Dilaram on the main Darjeeling access road, blocking traffic. Another struck Hussain Khola on NH-110 near Kurseong, while NH-717E between Pedong and Rishikhola has been blocked due to slips. A fresh landslide was reported at Gayabari, around 56 km from Darjeeling, severing access to Mirik.
The iron bridge over the Balason River at Dudhia, linking Siliguri and Mirik, has collapsed, halting movement along that crucial route. Even the usually dependable Rohini Road has suffered damage, with sections slipping down the hillside.
Tourists Stranded as Rain Lashes Hills
The weather office had issued a red alert for Darjeeling and surrounding hill districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. Rain began late Saturday and intensified overnight. By 8:30 am on Sunday, Darjeeling had recorded 261 mm of rain in 24 hours — classified as extremely heavy rainfall by IMD standards.
Tourists are stranded at multiple points as road connectivity has snapped. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has issued advisories closing tourist spots like Rock Garden and Tiger Hill for now, urging caution in landslide-prone zones.
Plains of North Bengal Also Pounded
The plains have not been spared. Heavy rainfall continues in Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri districts, which recorded 190 mm and 172 mm of rainfall respectively in the past 24 hours — both in the “very heavy” category.
Such intense rain in flood-prone lowlands has led to waterlogging and raised the threat of flash floods. Rivers including the Teesta, Torsa, Jaldhaka and Raidak are rising, with parts of NH-10 near Tistabazar submerged by swollen waters. Authorities have warned of worsening downstream flooding as hill runoff reaches the plains.
Rescue and Relief Operations Intensify
District administrations, disaster response forces, and police have launched rescue operations in affected areas. Relief teams are attempting to reach cut-off villages in Darjeeling’s remote hilly terrain. Authorities are monitoring river levels closely and have issued alerts for vulnerable embankments in the plains.
Alerts and Forecast
The districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar were placed under a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall. Showers are expected to continue through Sunday and into Monday, potentially worsening landslides and flooding.