Nature's Fury Hits Bengal: 13 Dead, Several Trapped in Darjeeling Landslides

Darjeeling (The Uttam Hindu): Continuous heavy rains have wreaked havoc in North Bengal, disrupting normal life. At least 13 people have died so far in separate landslides and bridge collapses in Darjeeling district, while two are still missing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.

According to reports, the worst affected areas of Darjeeling were the Mirik and Sukhia areas, where landslides destroyed several homes. The largest landslide, near the Mirik-Sukhiapokhari road, cut off several villages from the main road. A Darjeeling official confirmed the death of seven people and said that relief and rescue operations were facing significant difficulties due to continuous rain. Darjeeling police and local volunteers were working to rescue people trapped in the debris.

Due to the rain, a large section of an iron bridge collapsed in Dudhia, completely restricting vehicular movement on the SH-12 highway connecting Siliguri to Darjeeling. Hundreds of tourists and locals are stranded. The situation remains dire in Kalimpong, where several areas have been cut off.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the horrific tragedy in Darjeeling in a post on the social media platform 'X'. He wrote, "Deeply saddened by the loss of life and property in the bridge accident in Darjeeling. My condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. The situation in Darjeeling and surrounding areas is being closely monitored in view of the heavy rains and landslides. We are committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected."