At Least 23 Dead as Torrential Rains and Landslides Isolate North Bengal, Sikkim
Joydeep Sarkar
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Kolkata: Torrential rain since early October 4 has unleashed widespread devastation across North Bengal, cutting off Darjeeling, Kalimpong and parts of Sikkim from the plains. Landslides, collapsed bridges and swollen rivers have left at least 17 people dead, a toll expected to rise as rescue teams struggle to reach remote hill settlements.
Unofficial reports suggest that over 20 people may have died so far. The situation is being compared to the catastrophic Teesta floods of 1968, one of the worst natural disasters in the region’s history.
Damage caused by flooding across North Bengal. Photo: By arrangement.
An average of 300 mms of rain poured down within 12 hours by early Sunday, triggering multiple landslides across the hills. Nine people were killed in Mirik after an iron bridge collapsed, seven died in Sukhiapokhri, and one person lost their life in Bijanbari. Several others remain missing in Sonada and Singmari, where landslides have buried sections of villages.
Rescue operations have been severely hampered by the continuous downpour and the collapse of key roads and bridges. Officials said three major hill districts — Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong — remain inaccessible from the plains.
Two iron bridges have collapsed, while National Highway 10, the crucial lifeline connecting Siliguri to Sikkim, has suffered extensive damage, with large craters and landslides rendering it impassable. Multiple other roads have been blocked by debris or washed away entirely, effectively severing the hills from the rest of the state.
The collapse of bridges and disruption of road networks have left both residents and hundreds of stranded tourists isolated, as rescue teams battle near-impossible conditions to reach them. Tea garden labour lines across several estates have been badly affected by flooding and mudslides, with reports of homes being swept away in the night.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee attributed the disaster to the massive local rain coupled with “excessive flow of river waters from Bhutan and Sikkim.”
Authorities in Bhutan have warned that the Wangchu river in the neighbouring country has overflowed a dam and asked the Mamata Banerjee government to “prepare for eventualities.”
On a social media post, Banerjee wrote, “Two iron bridges have collapsed, several roads have been damaged and flooded, huge tracts of land in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar have been inundated. There have been reports of worrying damages and losses particularly in Mirik, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Matigara and Alipurduar. I have been monitoring the situation from last night on round- round-the-clock basis.”
The chief minister is expected to visit North Bengal on Monday to review the damage and oversee relief efforts. She has advised all stranded tourists to “stay put where they are” until police can safely evacuate them, assuring that “rescue costs are ours and tourists need not be anxious.”
Floods across North Bengal. Photo: By arrangement.
Speaking to The Wire, Udayan Guha, the North Bengal Development Minister, said, “It’s raining heavily in both the plains and the hills. Therefore, until this continuous rain stops, it is impossible to accurately specify the definitive number of deaths or the full extent of the damage.”
In the plains, the situation remains critical, with all major rivers, Teesta, Jaldhaka, Balason, Karala, Mal, Torsha, Dudhia, Ghish and Diana, flowing above the danger level. The swelling waters have inundated forest areas, posing a grave threat to wildlife.
Floods across North Bengal. Photo: By arrangement.
Officials have recovered the bodies of a dead elephant in Naxalbari and a rhinoceros in Malbazar, while several deer fawns were seen being swept away near Alipurduar. Forest personnel fear that more animals may have perished as floodwaters rise across national parks and reserve forests in the Dooars region.
“The situation in some areas is still terrible. Many areas are cut off. The greatest damage so far has occurred in Jalpaiguri. We are focusing on rescuing people from various areas and bringing them to relief camps,” said Gautam Deb, Mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation.
Floods across North Bengal. Photo: By arrangement.
Rescue and relief operations are underway by local authorities, National Disaster Response Force and volunteer organisations, but continuous rainfall and impassable roads, including the badly damaged National Highway 10, are severely obstructing efforts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast of heavy to very heavy rain for the next three days across five North Bengal districts, indicating the disaster is far from over.
The State Government has set up Control Roll for assistance. the State HQ and districts have 24x7 control rooms.
- Nabanna Disaster Management Control Room: 91 33 2214 3526 and 91 33 2253 5185
- Toll-Free Numbers: 91 86979 81070 and 1070
Translated by Aparna Bhattacharya.
Note: The toll has been updated in this report since publication.
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