DARJEELING, WEST BENGAL – October 5, 2025 – Continuous and extremely heavy rains triggered massive landslides across the Darjeeling and Mirik hills in West Bengal on Sunday, killing at least 20 people, including children, and injuring several others. The disaster has swept away homes, isolated numerous villages, and left thousands of tourists stranded as road links across the region were severely severed.
Fatalities were reported from multiple locations, including Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon (Mechi), Nagrakata, and the Mirik Lake area. The worst affected area appears to be Mirik, where the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reported at least 11 deaths and seven rescued individuals. In Darjeeling subdivision, seven deaths were confirmed, with rescue operations underway involving police, local administration, and disaster response teams.
North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha described the situation as “alarming” and confirmed that the death toll of 20 is “likely to go up.”
Chief Minister Calls Situation ‘Grave’
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee characterized the flood situation in North Bengal as “grave,” attributing the disaster to more than 300mm of rain in 12 hours and overflow from incessant rain in Bhutan. She has been monitoring the situation and held virtual meetings with officials from the five affected districts.
The Chief Minister announced she would visit the region on Monday afternoon to assess the damage, departing after the Durga Puja Carnival in Kolkata. She also promised government compensation to the families of the deceased, which will include a job for one family member.
Addressing the stranded tourists, the CM urged them not to panic, assuring them that arrangements are being made for their safe return and warning hotels against overcharging guests.
Prime Minister and President Offer Condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep pain over the loss of lives, stating on social media that the situation is being “closely monitored” and the government is committed to providing “all possible assistance.”
President Droupadi Murmu also offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the success of ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Connectivity Severely Disrupted
The heavy rainfall has caused widespread infrastructural damage, severely disrupting road connectivity across the Darjeeling district and North Sikkim.
• The iron bridge over the Balason River at Dudhia, which connects Siliguri and Mirik, has collapsed, cutting off a major route to the region.
• Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also confirmed the disruption of communication and transport links to the plains of Siliguri, Terai, and Dooars, urging the Chief Secretary to immediately mobilize resources for the swift restoration of networks and the distribution of essential relief materials.
• The NDRF confirmed that one village in Mirik is currently marooned due to flooding and road blockages.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, until October 6, warning that saturated soil conditions make more landslides and road blockages highly likely.