Darjeeling deluge kills 18 after landslides sweep through hills

Massive landslides and raging floodwaters triggered by incessant rain since Saturday night have killed 18 people, snapped key communication and transport links, destroyed bridges, and left several injured in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills of West Bengal, officials said on Sunday.

- Pramod Giri

Officials warned that the death toll could rise, with several injured still in critical condition at hospitals in Darjeeling and Siliguri as the barrage of monsoon-related tragedies continued to haunt the Himalayan mountains and foothills.

Among the victims, eleven — including three children — died in the Mirik subdivision of Darjeeling district, according to authorities.

The heavy rainfall began around 6pm on Saturday, impacting neighbouring regions of Sikkim, Bhutan, and Nepal, where over 50 people have reportedly died due to landslides and flash floods.

State administration and army officials reported that the calamities in Darjeeling, a popular tourist hill station, destroyed two steel bridges, damaged four national highways and more than a dozen state roads, and severely affected houses, commercial establishments, and government properties.

At least five teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed across the region by Sunday evening, continuing search and rescue operations. Officials also said that thousands of tourists remained stranded in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Mirik and have been advised to stay indoors. The influx of visitors had surged during the post Durga Puja holidays.

Darjeeling reported numerous landslides between Saturday and Sunday.

"Reports of missing persons are yet to be confirmed," said an official from Darjeeling's Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), speaking on condition of anonymity.

The landslides caused severe damage to crucial infrastructure, including NH-10 - the lifeline connecting Sikkim and Kalimpong and NH-110, which links Siliguri to Darjeeling. NH-717A, the second road connecting Sikkim with Siliguri, also suffered damage at multiple points. Traffic movement on NH-10, which is the main road to Sikkim, resumed on Sunday evening.