Darjeeling Landslides Kill 24, Hundreds Stranded Amid Worst Rainfall Disaster in a Decade

Darjeeling: At least 24 people, including children, have lost their lives and several others remain missing after relentless rain triggered devastating landslides across Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts. Officials have described the calamity as the region’s worst such disaster in ten years, leaving roads, bridges, and homes destroyed, and isolating numerous villages. Hundreds of tourists are reportedly stranded as rescue operations continue amid persistent heavy rainfall.

The death toll, initially reported as 23, climbed to 24 on Monday morning with the recovery of another body, North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha confirmed. He added that the situation remains extremely challenging, warning that the number of casualties could rise further as rescue teams struggle against ongoing rainfall and landslide-prone terrain.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee convened an emergency meeting at Nabanna on Sunday and immediately set up a 24×7 control room to coordinate relief and rescue efforts. She is scheduled to visit North Bengal today to personally assess the devastation and oversee relief operations. Officials have compared the scale of the disaster to the 2015 Darjeeling landslides, which claimed nearly 40 lives, calling the current situation unprecedented in the last decade.

Several areas, including Mirik, Dhar Gaon, Jasbirgaon, and parts of Jalpaiguri, have been severely affected, with roads and homes destroyed. Tourist movement has been badly disrupted, with key routes such as Kurseong and Rohini blocked. Authorities are working to evacuate stranded visitors via alternative routes, including Tindharia Road, but progress has been slow due to the relentless rain.

Infrastructure has also suffered heavy damage, with a portion of the Dudhia iron bridge over the Balasan river collapsing and cutting off Mirik from Siliguri. Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb stated that the Public Works Department (PWD) is constructing a temporary bridge to restore partial connectivity and facilitate relief operations.

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, and fire services are working round-the-clock, navigating treacherous terrain to reach remote villages. Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and avoid travel, warning that more landslides could occur due to continuous heavy rainfall.