Landslides & Floods Wreak Havoc,Rescue Operations Intensified in North Bengal, Red Alerts Issued

Thousands remain stranded in hill pockets, among debris from collapsed bridges and caved-in slopes. The continuous rainfall over 12 hours resulted in more than 300 mm precipitation, disrupting lives and hampering ongoing rescue efforts, which now include National Disaster Response Force teams working round-the-clock with heavy earth-moving machinery to locate missing persons.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has described the floods as “man-made” and announced compensation of Rs.5 lakh per victim’s family, plus a promise of a government job to one bereaved family member. Relief camps have sprung up, providing food, water, blankets, and medicine to thousands of displaced residents, with helicopters on standby to deliver supplies to severely isolated villages if necessary.

Amid ongoing rainfall, IMD has issued heavy rain and fresh landslide alerts for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar until at least Tuesday. With key roads blocked and hundreds of tourists stranded after the Durga Puja holidays, local NGOs and district officials are coordinating evacuations through alternate routes[5]. The crisis highlights chronic vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness, urging better infrastructure, forecasting, and response plans to prevent future tragedies.