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).
On Sunday, heavy rainfall triggered significant landslides across the Darjeeling hills and nearby regions, causing considerable devastation and disruption. More than 300 mm of rain fell in a mere 12 hours, severely affecting the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Kalimpong. Thousands of tourists have found themselves stranded, and many others have lost their homes due to the landslides.
The West Bengal government has responded promptly, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announcing a compensation package of ₹5 lakh for the families of those who have died. She has also instructed that tourists will not incur any costs for lodging or travel, as the state government will cover all expenses. Approximately 500 tourists stuck in the Darjeeling hills have been rescued and transported to Siliguri, while those in the Dooars have also been safely evacuated.
In light of the disaster, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose shortened his trip to Tamil Nadu and Kerala to go to the affected region. The Chief Minister has committed to building a temporary bridge over the Balasan River within the next 20 days, following the collapse of the Dudiya iron bridge due to extreme rainfall.
The Chief Minister pointed the finger of blame at the Centre and said that water from neighbouring states is causing flooding in West Bengal. She said the floods in North Bengal were “man made.” “North Bengal has been flooded with water from Bhutan and Sikkim. There was 300 mm of rain for 12 hours. Where will all this water go? We tolerate water from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. How much more will we do?” Ms. Banerjee told media persons.
The Chief Minister added that water from Bhutan gushed in through the Sankosh River and water from the Teesta came down from Sikkim, flooding several areas of North Bengal. Ms. Banerjee once again blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and said that its reservoirs are releasing water at will, and said that flood management is nonexistent, and the Union government has not dredged the river Ganga either.
She asked what use dams were if water is released without holding. “Why do you need to have dams? … All states could then have shared the impact equally. But it is Bengal that’s at the receiving end,” she said. She emphasised the need for an Indo-Bhutan River Commission and said that unless such an arrangement is made, North Bengal will suffer.
At the same time, tensions between the TMC and BJP have escalated, with a group of BJP leaders reportedly attacked by local residents in Nagrakata. BJP MP Khagen Murmu and Siliguri MLA Sankar Ghosh were among those injured during the incident. While the BJP has denounced the attack, Chief Minister Banerjee has called for calm, stressing the importance of solidarity during this challenging time. “Support those around you. We should avoid any incidents at this moment. We will unite and confront this crisis together,” she stated.
