Darjeeling landslide: 28 dead, many still missing; Bhutan warns West Bengal as Tala dam overflows

Darjeeling District Floods

Even as Darjeeling reels from devastating rains and landslides that have killed at least 28 people, there are now fears of flooding in North Bengal’s Dooars region. Authorities have sounded a high alert after Bhutan’s Tala Hydropower Dam began overflowing due to a technical glitch.

Bhutan’s National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) said the Druk Green Power Corporation reported a malfunction in the dam’s gates, which failed to open, causing river water to spill over the structure. Bhutan has officially warned the West Bengal government to stay prepared for potential downstream impact.

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The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said its team in Alipurduar has been placed on “the highest alert level”. All personnel on leave have been recalled, and 15 additional rescuers from Siliguri are being sent to strengthen the response in low-lying areas near the Indo-Bhutan border.

Landslides wreck Darjeeling

In Darjeeling district, continuous heavy rain has caused large-scale destruction, especially in Mirik and Sukhia Pokhari. Roads have caved in, bridges have collapsed, while several houses have been washed away. Torrential rain triggered massive landslides, leaving several villages cut off from the rest of the region.

Thirteen bodies have been recovered in Mirik, a popular hill town known for Sumendu Lake and views of Kanchenjunga. Ten more people, including a tourist from Kolkata, remain missing.

Officials fear the death toll could rise once teams reach the upper hills, where communication lines are still down, The Times of India reported.

Darjeeling recorded 261 mm of rain in 24 hours from 8 am Saturday, classified as “extremely heavy rainfall.” Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri recorded 192 mm and 172 mm respectively, while Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri reported a staggering 300 mm.

Intense rescue efforts by NDRF

NDRF Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi said three teams have already been deployed from Darjeeling, Siliguri, and Alipurduar. Two more teams from Malda and Kolkata are on their way to assist in rescue and relief work. “Our personnel are engaged in locating missing persons and helping stranded villagers,” Shahedi was quoted by ANI as saying.

Also, a storm system moving east from eastern Uttar Pradesh is now approaching the Dooars area. Meteorologists warn that if heavy rain continues in Bhutan’s hills, rivers in North Bengal could swell rapidly, raising the risk of flash floods in already vulnerable areas.