Relentless Rains Ravage Sikkim–Darjeeling Hills: Teesta Floods NH-10

Continuous heavy rainfall triggers fresh floods and landslides across Kalimpong and Sukhia, cutting off major routes to Siliguri and Sikkim, as authorities race to restore connectivity and ensure safety.

KalimNews, Kalimpong , October 5, 2025 : Unabated torrential rains across the eastern Himalayan region since Saturday night have unleashed widespread disruption, flooding, and tragedy in parts of North Bengal and adjoining Sikkim. The swelling Teesta River submerged parts of National Highway 10 (NH-10), which is a crucial connection between Siliguri, Gangtok, and Kalimpong. Meanwhile, massive landslides across various hill regions have resulted in loss of life and destruction of several villages.

In Kalimpong district, continuous rainfall caused the Teesta’s water level to surge sharply, inundating stretches of NH-10 at Ravijhora and 29th Mile early on Sunday morning. Traffic movement between Siliguri to Kalimpong and Gangtok through NH-10 came to a standstill for several hours as the swollen river overflowed its banks, flooding the low-lying sections of the highway.

According to local reports, floodwaters als
o entered parts of the old Teesta Bridge area near Teesta Bazaar, forcing shopkeepers and residents to take precautionary steps. Although no casualties or major property loss were reported in Kalimpong, the incident revived grim memories of the catastrophic Teesta floods of October 4, 2023, which devastated the region.

Kalimpong District Magistrate Balasubramanian T confirmed that multiple landslides occurred along the stretch between Chitrey and Setijhora, blocking the road and halting all vehicular movement for the entire day. The alternate route, NH-717A, which connects Sikkim via Reshi, near Pedong was also affected by landslides near the inter-state border, compounding travel woes.

“The Teesta breached embankments and inundated the highway at a couple of low-lying points, including Ravijhora and 29th Mile. However, there have been no reports of loss of life, crop damage, or property loss. No evacuation or temporary shelter operations have been necessary so far,” the District Magistrate stated. Reports of landslips in Gorubathan block is also received with minor damages. Roads towards Todey Tangta via Jholung was also blocked. 

Disaster Management teams and Civil Defence Volunteers have been deployed to monitor the situation, coordinate relief efforts, and assess the damage. Detailed reports from all administrative blocks are being compiled to evaluate the full extent of the impact.

By Sunday afternoon, as rainfall intensity subsided and water levels began to recede, teams from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) worked tirelessly to remove debris. Normal traffic movement on NH-10 was gradually restored later in the evening. Alternate routes from Kalimpong to Siliguri via Panbu and Gorubathan, which had also suffered minor damages and tree fall due to landslides, were cleared during the early morning hours to ease movement.

While minor landslides and infrastructural damages were reported in other parts of Kalimpong district, officials confirmed no serious mishaps. However, residents faced significant inconvenience due to power outages, waterlogging, and blocked roads in several areas.

In a related development, the Indian Army has initiated rescue missions in neighboring Bhutan, where similar weather conditions have caused flooding and infrastructural damage along border areas.

As the rain-weary hills brace for more unpredictable weather, officials urge residents to remain cautious and avoid travel in vulnerable zones. Continuous monitoring and coordinated inter-agency response are underway to restore normalcy and ensure public safety across the affected regions.