At least 23 people were killed as relentless rain triggered one of the worst landslides in a decade across the Darjeeling and Mirik hills of West Bengal over the weekend, officials said on Monday, warning that the death toll was likely to rise as rescue teams worked through debris at dozens of sites.
The landslides, triggered by incessant downpour through the night, swept away homes, buried roads under thick mud and cut off remote villages. Fatalities were reported from Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon, Nagrakata and the Mirik Lake area. According to a compilation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and district administrations, 11 people died in Mirik — the worst-hit zone — seven in the Darjeeling subdivision and five in Nagrakata in the adjoining Jalpaiguri district. North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha described the situation as "alarming" and said the toll, already at least 23, was likely to go up.
Hundreds of tourists stranded
Hundreds of tourists who had thronged the hills for the Durga Puja and post-festive season found themselves stranded as the rains lashed the region. Families from Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly visiting Mirik, Ghoom and Lepchajagat were forced to stay indoors, with key routes including the Mirik–Sukhiapokhri road blocked and communication lines to several hilltop settlements snapped.
The NDRF has joined rescue and relief operations alongside the police, local administration and disaster response teams, though heavy and continuous rain has hampered the work. "Seven injured have been rescued from the area" in Mirik, the NDRF said, with operations continuing round the clock.
Worst in a decade
Officials described the devastation as the worst since the 2015 landslides in the region, which killed nearly 40 people. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced compensation for the victims and said she would visit north Bengal on Monday to assess the situation.
Sources:
- Xinhua: World news summary at 1530 GMT, Oct. 6
- The Week (PTI): Death, devastation in Darjeeling — 23 killed as landslides rip through hills after torrential rains
The landslides, triggered by incessant downpour through the night, swept away homes, buried roads under thick mud and cut off remote villages. Fatalities were reported from Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon, Nagrakata and the Mirik Lake area. According to a compilation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and district administrations, 11 people died in Mirik — the worst-hit zone — seven in the Darjeeling subdivision and five in Nagrakata in the adjoining Jalpaiguri district. North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha described the situation as "alarming" and said the toll, already at least 23, was likely to go up.
Hundreds of tourists stranded
Hundreds of tourists who had thronged the hills for the Durga Puja and post-festive season found themselves stranded as the rains lashed the region. Families from Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly visiting Mirik, Ghoom and Lepchajagat were forced to stay indoors, with key routes including the Mirik–Sukhiapokhri road blocked and communication lines to several hilltop settlements snapped.
The NDRF has joined rescue and relief operations alongside the police, local administration and disaster response teams, though heavy and continuous rain has hampered the work. "Seven injured have been rescued from the area" in Mirik, the NDRF said, with operations continuing round the clock.
Worst in a decade
Officials described the devastation as the worst since the 2015 landslides in the region, which killed nearly 40 people. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced compensation for the victims and said she would visit north Bengal on Monday to assess the situation.
Sources:
- Xinhua: World news summary at 1530 GMT, Oct. 6
- The Week (PTI): Death, devastation in Darjeeling — 23 killed as landslides rip through hills after torrential rains
