West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that she will be visiting North Bengal tomorrow to personally assess the situation caused by continuous heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides that have wreaked havoc across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and adjoining districts.
Speaking to media over the phone, Banerjee said, “I will be travelling to North Bengal tomorrow along with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant. By afternoon, I will reach Siliguri and monitor the situation from there.”
For now, the Chief Minister has been stationed in the control room in Nabanna, keeping a close watch since this morning.
She added that she had already held a virtual meeting with officials of five North Bengal districts and has been monitoring developments since 6 am.
Torrential rain has battered Darjeeling and Kalimpong, triggering multiple landslides, road blockages, and rising river levels since yesterday evening.
At least 13 deaths have been reported so far from Darjeeling district alone. Nine people were killed when an iron bridge collapsed in Mirik, seven lost their lives in Sukhiapokhri, and another was reported dead in Bijanbari.
Tourists remain stranded as several key roads have been cut off, and communication with Kalimpong and Sikkim has been completely disrupted, officials said.
Banerjee attributed the worsening conditions to heavy rainfall in Bhutan, which has swelled rivers in North Bengal. “The rainwater from Bhutan has flooded our region. This calamity is extremely unfortunate. Disasters are beyond human control, but we are deeply distressed,” she said.
The Alipore Meteorological Department had already issued a warning of heavy rainfall in Darjeeling, and by Saturday night, the region was lashed by continuous downpours.
The Teesta river has risen sharply, flooding stretches of National Highway 10 near 29 Mile Balukhola in Teestabazar, leading to the closure of the crucial road link.
In addition, part of the iron bridge between Mirik and Doodhia collapsed, cutting off connectivity between Siliguri and Mirik, as well as severely hampering access to Darjeeling town — an unusual occurrence.
Rescue operations are underway, though officials admitted that bad weather has made the task extremely challenging.
The Additional Superintendent of Police (Kurseong) said that five bodies had already been recovered from Mirik, with two more earlier, and four confirmed dead in Sukhiapokhri.
“Roads via Rohini and Dilaram are completely blocked. We are trying to rescue those stranded in Mirik and evacuate residents from affected areas,” the official said.
Police later confirmed at least 13 deaths, warning that the toll could rise further.
Landslides near Dilaram have also blocked the main road leading to Darjeeling, while routes towards Kalimpong and Sikkim remain closed.
Wild animals have also been displaced by the floods, with two deer rescued after straying into villages. Several rivers are now flowing above the danger mark.
Meanwhile, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) issued an advisory on Sunday morning, temporarily closing popular tourist spots like Rock Garden and Tiger Hill. Visitors have been urged to exercise caution amid the continuing natural disaster.
Banerjee is expected to chair high-level meetings in Siliguri after reaching North Bengal on Monday and coordinate further relief and rescue operations.
