The death toll from devastating landslides in North Bengal rose to 28 on Monday, with six people still missing, as rescue teams battled landslides and rising waters across the hills and Dooars. The disaster has also ignited a fierce political confrontation between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for triggering a “man-made disaster”, while the BJP accused the TMC of orchestrating an attack on its MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Shankar Ghosh while visiting the disaster-hit Nagrakata region in Jalpaiguri.
With over 300 mm of rain in 12 hours, the landslides ravaged Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong districts, leaving thousands of tourists stranded, hundreds homeless as several hill slopes caved in.
Rescue teams struggled to clear over 40 landslide points, as swollen rivers and broken bridges cut off remote settlements.
North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha said the toll was likely to rise further as rescue operations continued.
“Till now, 28 people have died and six remain missing. The deaths have been reported from both Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri,” Guha told PTI.
The worst-affected areas include Mirik, Sukhiapokhri, Jorebunglow, and Nagrakata, where roads have vanished under mud, bridges collapsed, and villages lie buried under debris.
Hundreds of tourists are stranded, while locals wait anxiously for news of missing family members.
Chief Minister Banerjee, accompanied by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, flew to Bagdogra to oversee rescue operations.
She accused the DVC and the Centre of negligence. “This is a man-made disaster.