Heavy rain unleashes deadly floods and landslides across Darjeeling, India, and neighboring Nepal

Heavy rain turns deadly across the eastern Himalayas

Days of relentless downpour have unleashed destruction across the eastern Himalayas, killing at least 18 people in Darjeeling, India, and 50 in neighboring Nepal. Flash floods and landslides have torn through steep valleys, washing away homes, bridges, and roads, and leaving mountain communities stranded.

Rescuers are battling blocked routes and thick debris to reach those trapped. Local officials in India’s West Bengal state said several people remain missing, warning that the death toll could climb as more reports come in from remote, landslide-hit villages.

“Two iron bridges have collapsed, several roads have been damaged and flooded, huge tracts of land have been inundated," said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar - known for tea plantations and winding mountain roads - are among the hardest hit.

The Indian Meteorological Department warned that more rain is on the way, following what it described as “extremely heavy" weekend downpours over Darjeeling and nearby regions.

Bridges collapse, roads vanish under mud

Infrastructure damage is extensive. In Siliguri, West Bengal, an iron bridge spanning the Balason River - a vital route to the hill town of Mirik - was swept away by floodwaters. Sections of major highways have caved in, and piles of mud and rock now block entire stretches of road.

“Large amounts of debris littered the roads, making it impossible for rescuers to reach some villages," said a disaster management official. Power lines are down, and phone networks remain patchy in parts of the mountains.

Tourists in the hill resort of Darjeeling, famous for its tea gardens and views of Mount Kanchenjunga, have been advised to stay indoors until evacuation routes reopen.

Nepal reels under landslides and floods

Across the border, Nepal is facing an even greater toll. At least 50 people have died, most of them in the eastern district of Ilam, which borders India. Whole hillsides collapsed under the weight of rain, burying homes and roads.

Rescue crews are digging through mud and shattered timber, searching for survivors. “We are continuing search and rescue operations in affected villages," said district official Bholanath Guragain.

Water levels on the Koshi River - one of the largest in Nepal - have surged to more than twice their normal height, forcing authorities to open all 56 sluice gates at the Koshi Barrage. Several rural areas have been completely cut off.

In both countries, the timing could not have been worse. The floods struck just as families were returning from the Dashain festival, Nepal’s most important religious holiday, when travel surges across the region.

The monsoon season in the Himalayas - lasting from mid-June to mid-September - brings vital water but also destruction. Every year, hundreds of lives are lost to floods and landslides. This year, the rains came late, then all at once, turning mountain streams into torrents and leaving entire communities fighting for survival.