Heavy overnight rainfall has triggered widespread disruption across the hills of North Bengal and adjoining areas, with flash floods and landslides damaging key infrastructure and severely affecting road connectivity between Darjeeling, Siliguri and Mirik.
According to the Meteorological Department, nearly 200 mm of rainfall was recorded across several hill and plains regions between Thursday evening and Friday morning. The continuous downpour has caused river levels to rise rapidly, leading to significant damage in multiple locations.
A temporary hume pipe bridge at Dudhia in the Kurseong block was washed away by the strong currents of the Balason River. Meanwhile, rising water levels in the Mahananda River triggered landslides at several stretches of National Highway 110, a crucial route connecting Darjeeling and Siliguri. Authorities have closed the highway as a precautionary measure.
A major section of the three-lane road linking Kurseong and Siliguri has also collapsed. Vehicular movement was further disrupted after a large tree fell across the roadway. Administrative officials said debris-clearing and repair work is underway, but restoration of normal traffic may take time.
The disruption has also affected the operations of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. All toy train services scheduled for Friday have been cancelled due to damage along the NH-110 corridor. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Director Rishabh Choudhary said services will remain suspended until landslide clearance work is completed. However, authorities are planning to resume operations on the Darjeeling–Kurseong route from Saturday, subject to conditions.
The situation worsened on Thursday night as water levels in the Balason River rose sharply, prompting authorities to open the gates of the Mahananda Barrage. Water levels in the Teesta River also continued to increase. Panic spread among residents of Dudhia and nearby riverside areas as the swollen Balason submerged the temporary bridge around midnight, effectively cutting off road connectivity between Mirik, Dudhia and Siliguri.
The original bridge at Dudhia had been damaged during floods in October last year. An interim structure was later constructed on the instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. However, concerns had been raised about the durability of the temporary bridge over the fast-flowing Balason River. Those fears have now materialised with the onset of the monsoon.
The state administration is closely monitoring the situation. State Tourism Minister and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh said the Chief Minister has been informed and that district authorities are maintaining regular coordination. He urged tourists and local residents to remain cautious and follow official advisories.
Weather experts have warned that dense cloud formations continue to persist over the hills of Bhutan and Sikkim, raising the possibility of further heavy rainfall over the coming days. If the rain continues, rivers including the Amochu may swell further, potentially creating fresh flood threats in the Dooars and adjoining plains.
