West Bengal’s beautiful hill town of Darjeeling has been facing one of its toughest times as heavy rain and landslides hit the region over the weekend. What began as steady showers soon turned into a disaster, claiming several lives and causing major destruction across the hills.
Nonstop Rain Triggers Deadly Landslides And Iron Bridge Collapse In Darjeeling
Heavy rains caused several landslides in Mirik, one of the district’s most scenic areas, resulting in at least six fatalities, according to reports from the Hindustan Times. Due to the continuous rain, many homes have been damaged, roads have been blocked, and many areas are now isolated. The full scale of the damage is still being assessed, but locals say this is one of the worst rain-related disasters the hills have seen in years.
A particularly shocking incident was the collapse of the iron bridge over Darjeeling’s Balason River at Dudhia, which connects Siliguri and Mirik. For locals, visitors, and vehicles, this bridge is an essential route. Since it collapsed, traffic has completely stopped, and many villagers are stuck on both sides. Rescue and relief efforts have also been hindered by the challenges teams face in accessing remote areas.
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IMD Issues Red Alert As Death Toll Rises
Extremely heavy rainfall was already predicted for the area by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). On Saturday, it issued a red alert for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar, warning people to remain cautious. According to Hindustan Times, an orange alert was in effect for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and the surrounding districts on Sunday, while the red alert for Alipurduar remained in effect.
Authorities have advised residents of high-risk areas to relocate to safer areas. Although disaster management teams have been sent in, rescue efforts have been arduous due to the persistent rain and blocked roads. The Hindustan Times reports that as water levels continue to rise and the possibility of more landslides looms large, many residents have sought refuge in schools and community halls.
The situation continues to be concerning for both residents and visitors. Numerous travel advisories have been issued urging people to refrain from needless trips to the hills until conditions improve, as the train and road connectivity between Siliguri and Darjeeling has been severely impacted.
Restoring roads, rebuilding what has been lost, and saving lives are still the top priorities as the rain keeps coming down.
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