DARJEELING: Torrential rains on Saturday night triggered multiple landslides across Darjeeling district, claiming seven lives and leaving several others missing. The death toll is an unofficial figure, collated from local sources. The West Bengal government will issue a detailed statement later. The continuous downpour has severely disrupted connectivity, prompting authorities to issue urgent safety advisories.The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has announced the closure of all tourist spots until further notice to ensure the safety of visitors in the hill station. Meanwhile, the district administration has urged both residents and tourists to remain indoors and venture out only when absolutely necessary.Key routes linking Darjeeling to Siliguri have been cut off. Landslides have blocked the main road at Dilaram and Whistle Khola in Kurseong, while the Rohini route—another vital connector—has been badly damaged. The iron bridge at Dudhey, the only link to Siliguri and Mirik has collapsed, isolating the surrounding communities. Similarly, the Pulbazar bridge has been severely damaged, cutting off Thanaline and other parts of Bijanbari from Darjeeling. National Highway 10 has also been closed at Chitrey following heavy slides. Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Praween Prakash said restoration work was underway on the main roads.“The roads at Whistle Khola and Dilaram are being cleared. Once open, we will allow vehicles to use the Hill Cart Road from Kurseong. Until then, traffic remains suspended,” he said.“The Rohini route will take longer as it falls under NHIDCL’s jurisdiction. The Mirik road is also closed; travelers can use the route via Darjeeling to reach Siliguri, though there is currently no direct alternative. Restoration may take at least two to three hours due to multiple slides. We request tourists to remain in town and not travel until further updates are shared through our social media handles,” he added.
