Landslides in Darjeeling kill several as roads cut, teams deployed

Heavy rains over the weekend triggered multiple landslides in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, killing several people, damaging homes and infrastructure, and cutting off road and communications links across the Mirik and Darjeeling areas, officials said on Sunday. Rescue and relief teams, including district administration personnel, the state disaster management department, the National Disaster Response Force and army units, were searching for the missing and clearing debris amid continuing downpours.

Darjeeling Sub-Divisional Officer Richard Lepcha said at least seven deaths had been reported and warned that figures could change as operations continue. "We do not have the exact figures right now as the rescue and relief work has just started," he said. Other government officials and ministers gave higher, as yet unconfirmed, tolls in initial reports, and authorities cautioned that casualty counts remained provisional while teams reached isolated settlements.

The largest slides struck near hill slopes along the Mirik-Sukhiapokhri road, where slipping soil and debris blocked vehicular movement and severed communications to several hamlets. Local officials reported fatalities...