17 dead as heavy rain, landslides hit Darjeeling, Sikkim cut off

Seventeen people have died in West Bengal's Darjeeling after heavy rain triggered landslides and cut off road connectivity on key routes. Officials have said the calamity has cut off connectivity to the Himalayan state of Sikkim.

Darjeeling in north Bengal received heavy rain last night, leading to landslides in areas such as Mirik and Sukhia Pokhari. Police and local administration have started a rescue operation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he is "deeply pained" by the loss of lives in Darjeeling.

Landslides have led to roadblocks on key routes, including the road connecting Bengal and Sikkim and the one linking Darjeeling and Siliguri. A large number of tourists from Kolkata and other parts of Bengal travel to Darjeeling after the Durga Puja. So many tourists are likely to be caught in the calamity.

To prevent any untoward incident, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has decided to shut tourist spots in Darjeeling, including the Tiger Hill and Rock Garden. Authorities have asked residents and tourists to be careful and keep themselves updated on road and weather conditions. Bengal police set up a hotline for stranded tourists and residents: 9147889078

Heavy rain has also affected other areas in north Bengal, such as Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, and Cooch Behar, leading to waterlogging in several areas. The weather office had earlier warned of heavy rain in North Bengal and Sikkim. It had also issued two red warnings for Sikkim, predicting moderate thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rains, and gusty winds. The weather office has said the rainfall in the region is likely to continue until October 7. Officials have also warned that this may lead to flash floods in North Bengal.

The weather conditions in the region have also caused heavy damage in Nepal, claiming 22 lives in the past 36 hours.