Darjeeling: Heavy monsoon rain hit Darjeeling and Kalimpong on Sunday night and Monday, causing landslides, house damage, fallen trees and road closures.Kalimpong received 97 mm of rain, while Darjeeling received 70 mm in 24 hours. Authorities put police, disaster teams and other departments on alert.The worst damage was reported at 9th Mile in Kalimpong, where a landslide destroyed one house and badly damaged another. The affected families escaped in time. Emergency teams reached the spot and placed plastic sheets on the slope to reduce further erosion.The Teesta River also swelled, and water reached the Teesta-Darjeeling road, stopping traffic for several hours. Traffic resumed around 12.30 pm after the water level went down.Several roads were blocked by landslides, boulders and fallen trees, including parts of NH-10, NH-31A, State Highway-12 and stretches near Kalijhora, Sevoke, Rambi and Chitre. Road teams used machines to clear debris and restore traffic.In Darjeeling district, landslides damaged houses in Takdah and affected Bijanbari block, but no deaths were reported.Officials said the hillsides are now very unstable because of continuous rain. More rain is expected, so residents and tourists have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, especially through landslide-prone areas.
