(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Darjeeling, West Bengal – Heavy rain overnight in North Bengal has sparked landslides that block key roads in the Darjeeling district, leaving residents and tourists stuck. The West Bengal Police say traffic on several routes is halted and teams are clearing debris as fast as they can.
The floods have hit especially hard in villages around Mirik and the Sukhia Pokhari area, where houses and entire road sections have been washed away. “Our police are on the scene clearing roads and expect traffic to resume soon,” the local police posted on X, giving the Darjeeling Police Control Room contact at +91 91478 89078 for anyone needing help.
President Droupadi Murmu called the loss of life in a bridge collapse “distressing” and urged quick recovery for those injured. She paired her condolences with prayers for the ongoing rescue work. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and said the government would continue to support the affected people, monitoring the situation closely.
On the ground, Abhishek Roy, Additional SP in Kurseong, reports that seven bodies have already been recovered from landslide debris, and two more are still missing. A slide in Dilaram blocked the Kurseong‑Darjeeling road, while another at Gourishankar shut Rohini Road. Tindharia Road remains open, and authorities plan to evacuate 800‑plus tourists from Mirik through it in the next few hours.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is fighting the crisis. Three teams from Darjeeling, Siliguri, and Alipurduar are already working. Two more teams from Malda and Kolkata are en route. NDRF Deputy Inspector‑General Mohsen Shahedi notes, “We are actively searching for missing people and helping stranded villagers.”
Key roads, like the Siliguri‑Darjeeling State Highway‑12, are partially closed after the Dudhia iron bridge partially collapsed under the relentless rain. The bridge failure caused a serious traffic stand‑still, complicating rescue deliveries.
The ongoing heavy rainfall not only damages property but also hampers relief efforts by cutting off rural link roads. As the storm continues, residents remain in urgent need of aid while authorities push to restore normalcy.
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