Darjeeling landslide horror: 'Everything happened in minutes. The hill just came down in Mirik'

Darjeeling landslide

A devastating series of landslides, triggered by 12 hours of torrential rain, has ripped through the picturesque hills of Darjeeling, killing at least 28 people. The disaster, one of the worst in a decade for the region, has left a trail of destruction, stranding tourists and residents alike.

The calamity struck during the busy Durga Puja holidays, turning a festive escape into a nightmare. Hundreds remain cut off as landslides have swept away homes, severed crucial road links and flattened entire hamlets.

Widespread destruction and rescue efforts



The worst-impacted area was Mirik, where 18 of the fatalities occurred and 11 others were injured. According to a report by Business Today, seven more deaths were reported from various locations within the Darjeeling subdivision.

Fatalities were confirmed from several areas, including Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, the Mirik Lake area and Nagrakata in the Jalpaiguri district. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and district administrations are leading the rescue operations.

“We have seen floods and storms, but never this. Everything happened in minutes. The hill just came down, like a wave of earth,” Pema Bhutia, a 58-year-old Mirik resident, was quoted by Business Today as saying.

Rescue workers are battling perilous conditions. Rohit Chhetri, a civil defence team member working near Teesta Bazar, said his team had not gone home since the disaster began. Although, the ground is reportedly still unstable and more rain forecast, rescue efforts are going on relentlessly.

Tourists join relief work amidst isolation



The landslides have caused severe infrastructural damage, isolating many villages. An iron bridge connecting Siliguri to the Mirik-Darjeeling route was damaged, critically hampering access for rescue and relief vehicles. The NDRF confirmed that road connectivity remains severely disrupted across Darjeeling and North Sikkim.

In a remarkable display of solidarity, some tourists who had come for the holidays joined the local rescue efforts. “We couldn't just sit and watch. The locals have been so kind to us. This is the least we can do,” said tourist Anjali Das, as cited by Business Today.

Temporary relief camps have reportedly been established by the district administration in coordination with non-governmental organisations. Many families from the vulnerable Mirik area have been relocated to safer locations.

High-level concern and continued alerts



The situation has prompted high-level political concern. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has formally requested the state government to declare the landslides a state-level disaster.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, until October 6. It has warned of further landslides and road blockages due to saturated soil.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the situation as “grave,” noting that incessant rain in Bhutan had caused water to overflow into North Bengal. She stated that this “unfortunate” disaster was a natural calamity beyond human control.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply pained by the loss of lives” and confirmed that the situation is being closely monitored.