Darjeeling, the tranquil hills of Darjeeling turned into scenes of destruction and despair this week as relentless rainfall battered the region, triggering multiple landslides that left at least two dead, including a six-year-old child, and several homes completely destroyed.
The rain, which began late Monday night and continued with frightening intensity, lashed across North Bengal, hitting areas like Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong the hardest. Local authorities and disaster response teams have been stretched thin as they battle both the weather and the aftermath—blocked roads, broken bridges, uprooted trees, and displaced families seeking shelter.
Two dead in darjeeling landslide
In Singamari, one of the worst-hit areas near Darjeeling town, houses were reduced to rubble as the hillside gave way. The bodies of a child and a woman were recovered from the debris, and search operations are still on as more people are feared trapped. A man in his forties is still missing after being swept away by a mudslide near Dali.
People spent the night in fear, many unable to sleep as the rumble of falling earth and rain echoed through the hills. Electricity and water supply were disrupted in several localities. “We ran out with just what we were wearing. Everything else is gone,” said one resident, standing outside a partially collapsed home with children shivering beside her.
In Ghoom and Kurseong, vital road links were cut off as landslides blocked NH-110 and other key routes. Darjeeling’s famed toy train service has been suspended, and tourists stuck in hotels have been advised to stay indoors.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over the situation and said that the state administration is closely monitoring developments. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed. Emergency relief camps have been set up, and dry rations and blankets are being distributed to those affected.
But for many, the trauma goes beyond what aid can mend. With the monsoon just beginning, the fear lingers—will the rains bring more devastation?
Environmental experts have long warned of the fragile nature of Himalayan terrain, worsened by unplanned construction and deforestation. Each year, the region faces landslides, but the scale of this disaster has shocked even long-time residents.
As rescue efforts continue and families mourn their losses, Darjeeling waits under grey skies, bracing for what comes next.
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