Queen of hill stations, Darjeeling is in the news for the wrong reasons. It has been pushed to the edge of a precipice owing to unsustainable development, climate change and lack of institutional will to remedy matters.

The gentle roar of Dooars’ rivers, the voice of life just a few years back, is a wail of despair today. As incessant heavy monsoon rains keep battering north Bengal foothills, the likes of Jaldhaka, Murti, and Torsa rivers have burst their banks, engulfing vast expanses of forest and tea plantations — and forcing wildlife to moan for safety.

The landslides in Darjeeling have led to a heartbreaking toll of 28 lives lost, with six people still unaccounted for. Rescue efforts are actively underway, with teams diligently working to assist isolated villages and those impacted by the disaster. This catastrophe has ignited a fierce political debate between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Deep into the heart of North Kolkata lies Kumartuli, the hub of clay image makers of goddess Durga and her entourage. It is that time of the year for the Kumartuli artisans whose clay-smeared hands are at work day and night.

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday struck down the transfer of the protest leader from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, relief that did not come to him alone but also to hundreds of young doctors who took to the streets in his support.

Heavy rain flooded Kolkata on September 23, 2025. This marked the highest September rainfall in 39 years and the sixth-highest in the city’s history. Between the mornings of September 22 and 23, the city saw 251.4 mm of rain. An astonishing 180 mm fell in just three hours. This heavy downpour caused widespread, severe waterlogging, leaving some areas underwater from knee to waist for up to 10 hours