Torrential rain, landslides claim one life in Darjeeling

EOI, DARJEELING, OCTOBER 3, 2024: Incessant and torrential overnight rain claimed one life in the Darjeeling hills on Thursday and left a trail of devastation. The body of Raghubir Rai (78) of Bijuwa Gaon under the Pulungdung gram panchayat in the Sukhia Block was found buried under huge debris that had covered his house.

Rai’s was the first fatality due to a landslide in the Darjeeling hills region this season. Four other members of the same household escaped narrowly. According to local residents, the incident at Pulungdung took place early in the morning when a landslide covered Rai's house, trapping him under the pile of debris. Rai's body was sent for post-mortem to the Darjeeling district hospital.

Officials of the Darjeeling district administration stated that the BDO had reached the spot and initiatives were being taken for the payment of ex-gratia to the family of the victim as per guidelines. There were reports of a house being damaged by a landslide near Rock Garden below Dali, but there were no casualties. Landslides were also reported in places like Lamba Dara in Alubari and Lochnagar near the Botanical Garden in Darjeeling, posing a threat to nearby houses.

In many places, like Gopaldhura in Lower Singtam, trees and mudslides blocked the road. Landslides at various stretches connecting Rimbik via Manebhunjayang to Darjeeling cut off connectivity. The torrential rainfall uprooted trees along the Sukhia Pokhri route near Lepcha Jagat in two places, blocking the road, which was cleared later in the evening. Damage to roads was reported between Bada Patabung and Darjeeling, where portions of the roadway caved in at multiple locations. The Bloomfield-Rishihat roads were also damaged in various places like Lower Dhuppidara, Rock Garden, and Mandalhatta, making it impossible for vehicles to pass. Major cracks and potholes have developed along the road stretch.

A portion of the road also collapsed along NH 110 between Jorebunglow and Rangbull but was later opened for one-way vehicular movement only. The newly constructed Balwabas Bridge at Lower Singtom, an alternative route to Bijanbari, was submerged underwater and mud. The bridge had been constructed by residents of the area under the initiative of Hamro Party leader Ajoy Edwards, who visited the site to assess the situation. "Only the railing and the lights installed on the bridge have been washed away. The bridge is in good condition and can be repaired within 15 days," Edwards said.

The Jamuney Park, a tourist spot below Singamari in Darjeeling, was inundated by the muddy Chota Rangeet river water. The Happy New Year Bridge over the river was also covered with mud and water, necessitating the suspension of vehicle movement. In Kalimpong district, falling boulders at Chitrey blocked the road to Kalimpong for several hours, but the road was later cleared for traffic movement.