HEAVY RAINFALL ALERT: KALIMPONG AND SURROUNDING HILLS ON HIGH WATCH AS MONSOON DEPRESSION TRIGGERS FLOOD AND LANDSLIDE WARNINGS

KalimNews, Sept 25, 2026, Kalimpong: Torrential downpours continue to hammer the Eastern Himalayas as an active southwest monsoon system, steered by an inland depression, triggers widespread alerts across West Bengal. Authorities have placed Kalimpong and Darjeeling on elevated alert for severe weather hazards, including potential landslides, sudden flash floods, and localized inundations over the coming days.

The regional weather dynamics are currently being driven by a distinct atmospheric depression stationed over southern Chhattisgarh and adjacent interior south Odisha. Tracked in real time via the Doppler Weather Radar stationed in Visakhapatnam, the vortex was located near latitude 20.9°N and longitude 82.4°E at 08:30 IST today, roughly north-northwest of Nuapada in Odisha, 80 kilometers east-southeast of Raipur, 130 kilometers south-southwest of Champa, and 140 kilometers south of Bilaspur. Propelled north-northwestward at a steady 15 km/h over the past six hours, meteorologists anticipate the system will sustain its depressive intensity for another 12 hours before weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area across the subsequent 12 hours.

Over the past 24 hours, the influence of this dynamic setup produced intense spells across northern districts. Substantial precipitation measurements recorded by 08:30 IST today demonstrate the severity of the deluge: Darjeeling registered a staggering 14 cm, followed closely by intense readings across Kalimpong district with the AMFU station tracking 12 cm, town proper recording 11 cm, Algarah 11 cm, Lava 11 cm, and Pedong logging 7 cm. Neighboring plains and foothill belts also experienced heavy drenching, with Siliguri and Falakata clocking 9 cm each, Bagdogra IAF and Suryasen Mahavidyalaya recording 8 cm, Champasari and Jalpaiguri measuring 7 cm, and Sevoke, Domohani, and Mekhliganj all receiving 6 cm. In South Bengal, persistent showers similarly left significant rainfall totals, led by Mohanpur at 9 cm, Midnapore stations recording between 7 and 8 cm, alongside 7 cm marks in Kalyani, Narayanpur, and Kharagpur.

Looking ahead through the next 24 hours (Day 1, valid until 08:30 IST on September 26), widespread light-to-moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms is expected across all northern districts. 

Crucially, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar are under an alert for heavy to very heavy precipitation ranging from 7 to 20 cm at isolated spots, while Darjeeling faces the risk of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm in one or two locations. Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur remain on alert for isolated heavy spells of 7 to 11 cm, with the entire region susceptible to squally winds gusting up to 40 km/h and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.

A severe red-level meteorological warning is in active effect for Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and surrounding hill districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy downpours specifically from 08:30 AM on September 26 to 08:30 AM on September 27, 2026. Driven by the persistent inland depression system, this critical window brings continuous intense precipitation with significant accumulation risks, heightening the threat of sudden flash floods and treacherous landslides across vulnerable terrain.

Local authorities and disaster management teams maintain high vigilance as saturated slopes and persistent heavy rainfall threaten regional road networks and transport routes. Residents, commercial drivers, and travelers are strongly advised to avoid vulnerable hill-slope structures, postpone non-essential journeys, and strictly follow official safety directives and highway closures during this high-risk period.

From September 26 to September 27 (Day 2), active weather will persist, bringing scattered heavy showers between 7 and 11 cm to Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri, accompanied by gusty winds across most northern districts. While widespread showers will prevail through September 28 (Day 3), a gradual tapering into scattered light-to-moderate activity is anticipated from September 28 through October 2 (Days 4 to 7). Given the sustained saturation of topsoil, hill residents must remain acutely vigilant against slope destabilization, road-blocking mudslides, rapid surge waters in mountain streams, waterlogging in lower-lying transit routes, and damage to standing horticulture crops.

Meanwhile, southern districts will also navigate severe conditions over the initial 24 hours, where Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, Birbhum, East and West Midnapore, and Jhargram face isolated heavy showers of 7 to 11 cm. Convective thunderstorm squalls packing gusts between 40 and 50 km/h pose hazards along coastal stretches of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore, while remaining southern belts could see gusts between 30 and 40 km/h. Sea conditions along and off the West Bengal and Odisha coasts, as well as the north-central Bay of Bengal, are expected to remain rough to very rough, swept by squalls clocking 35 to 45 km/h and peaking at 55 km/h. Activity in the south is forecasted to reduce to scattered showers by September 27 and remain localized through October 2.

In light of the prevailing conditions, public safety advisories urge travelers and residents across Kalimpong and Darjeeling to avoid staying in vulnerable hill-slope dwellings or fragile shelters. Motorists and tourists should exercise utmost caution, heed travel advisories, and curtail non-essential mountain transits. During active thunderstorms, everyone is strictly advised to seek robust indoor refuge, avoid open fields, steer clear of trees and utility lines, and avoid contact with water bodies.