Several feared dead in Darjeeling as landslides triggered by heavy rain hit West Bengal district

Several people are feared dead after incessant rainfall triggered multiple landslides in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district on Sunday, according to Police as quoted by news agency PTI.

The incident comes a day after continuous rainfall battered neighbouring Kalimpong district, triggering multiple landslides and disrupting key transport routes. According to Kalimpong Superintendent of Police Shrihari Pandey, the intensity of rain has since eased and no major casualties or damage have been reported so far.

Traffic movement between Bengal and Sikkim remains heavily affected. National Highway 10, the main arterial road connecting Siliguri to Gangtok, has been closed following several landslides at low-lying stretches such as Ravijhora and 29th Mile, where water levels breached the highway. The alternative route, NH717A, has also been hit by landslides near the Reshi border, disrupting movement to Sikkim.

The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited ( NHIDCL) is working with the district administration and police to clear debris and restore connectivity on both routes, officials said. Disaster management teams and Civil Defence Volunteers remain on high alert across vulnerable areas, though authorities have clarified there is currently no need for public evacuation or the setting up of temporary shelters.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain alert for parts of Odisha and West Bengal due to a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. It has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall — between 7 and 20 cm — in some districts, including Birbhum, through October 6. Several parts of the state, including north Bengal hills, witnessed intermittent showers over the past few days.