Darjeeling, Oct 6: The death toll from devastating landslides in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district has climbed to 24 as disaster management personnel continued rescue operations on Monday. The landslides, which ravaged the Darjeeling hills and the Dooars region, were triggered by more than 300 mm of rain in a mere 12 hours. Several people remain missing, and hundreds of tourists are stranded in the cut-off hill pockets, officials noted.
North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha mentioned the toll increased after one more body was recovered late Sunday night.
“The situation remains extremely challenging. Several people are still missing, and the toll is likely to go up. Continuous rainfall is hampering the rescue operations,” Guha told the Press Trust of India (PTI).
The landslides have caused widespread devastation.
Major highways are buried under thick mud, communication lines are snapped, and entire slopes have caved in, with bridges washed away in some areas. The worst-affected regions include Mirik, Sukhiapokhri, and Jorebunglow in Darjeeling, as well as Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is leading the rescue operations across multiple sites. Heavy earth-moving machinery is being utilized to locate individuals feared trapped under the mounds of debris.
“Clearing operations are underway at more than 40 landslide points,” an official noted, adding that teams are “working around the clock to reopen the Mirik-Darjeeling and Sukhiapokhri roads.”
An official of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) mentioned that road connectivity to several remote hamlets remained severed even 24 hours after the disaster, stating, “Helicopter sorties may be needed to reach some interior villages.”
Hundreds of visitors who traveled to the hills for the Durga Puja vacations are stranded due to blocked arterial roads leading to Siliguri at the foothills.
Efforts are being made by officials to assist them in reaching Siliguri in batches via alternative routes.
The district administration, in coordination with the GTA and local NGOs, has established relief camps.
An official confirmed that “Food, blankets, medicines, and drinking water are being provided to all displaced families.” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit the affected areas later in the day.
An official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a caution, noting that heavy to very heavy rainfall may continue in the region until Tuesday morning. An alert has been issued for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts.”Given the saturated soil and ongoing rain, the risk of fresh landslides remains high,” the official mentioned.
