Darjeeling landslide toll rises to 24 as rescue efforts continue amid rainfall
Public Lokpal
October 06, 2025
Darjeeling landslide toll rises to 24 as rescue efforts continue amid rainfall
DARJEELING: The death toll from the devastating landslides in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district has risen to 24, as rescue operations continue with several people still missing and thousands of tourists stranded in isolated hill areas, officials said on Monday.
North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha confirmed the toll increased following the recovery of one more body late on Sunday night.
“The situation remains extremely challenging. Several people are still missing, and the toll is likely to rise. Continuous rainfall is hampering rescue efforts,” he told PTI.
Triggered by over 300 mm of rain in just 12 hours, the landslides have ravaged large parts of the Darjeeling hills and the Dooars region at the foothills, according to officials.
Among the worst-affected areas are Mirik, Sukhiapokhri and Jorebunglow in Darjeeling district, and Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri.
Rescue operations, led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are ongoing across multiple sites, with heavy earth-moving machinery deployed to locate individuals feared trapped beneath debris.
“Clearing operations are underway at more than 40 landslide points. Our teams are working around the clock to reopen the Mirik–Darjeeling and Sukhiapokhri roads,” an official said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit the affected areas later today.
Relief camps have been set up by the district administration in coordination with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and local NGOs. “Food, blankets, medicines, and drinking water are being provided to all displaced families,” an official confirmed.
A GTA official stated that road connectivity to several hamlets remained cut off even 24 hours after the disaster. “Entire slopes have caved in, bridges have been washed away, and large portions of roads are buried under mud. Helicopter sorties may be necessary to reach some remote villages,” he added.
Hundreds of tourists who had travelled to the hills for Durga Puja holidays remain stranded, as arterial roads to Siliguri at the foothills are blocked. Efforts are being made to help them reach Siliguri in batches via alternative routes, another official noted.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region until Tuesday morning, with an alert issued for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts.
“Given the saturated soil and ongoing rain, the risk of fresh landslides remains high,” said an IMD official.
PTI
