Family worried as son goes silent after a Darjeeling homestay collapse amid heavy rains

In the misty embrace of Darjeeling's rolling hills, tragedy struck Sonada village yesterday late night when a homestay crumbled under relentless monsoon rains, leaving a young man from Kolkata's outskirts unaccounted for and his family gripped by fear. Himadri Purkait, a 25-year-old resident of Dakshin Kamarpol in South 24 Parganas' Parulia Coastal Police Station area, was working at the now-devastated property? A place he had arrived at just last month in September to chase his passion for travel and adventure. His last words to his worried parents around 10 PM painted a picture of weary normalcy: "It's raining here, I've eaten, don't worry." But as the downpour intensified, now, as rescue teams comb the debris-strewn slopes, Himadri's family clings to fading hope, their pleas echoing through the rain-lashed valleys.

Himadri's story is one woven from wanderlust and quiet determination. Known among friends and family for his insatiable itch to explore India's hidden gems, the young man had left his routine life behind in early September to take up a job at the cozy homestay in Sonada, a serene spot nestled amid Darjeeling's tea gardens and prayer flags. It was meant to be a fresh chapter, blending work with the thrill of the Himalayas' crisp air and panoramic views. Yet, what began as an escape is it turned into a nightmare when nature unleashed its fury? Heavy rains, a hallmark of the region's unpredictable autumn weather, battered the area for hours, triggering landslides that have already claimed minor damages in nearby spots.

The family's anguish deepened with every unanswered call and message. After that 10 PM conversation—where Himadri assured them he'd hunkered down safely—silence fell like a shroud! His mother, voice trembling, recounted how they urged him to stay indoors and heed the storm's roar. By dawn today, panic set in; frantic searches through social media and local networks yielded nothing. Himadri's phone, now eerily dormant, last pinged from the homestay's coordinates.

Local authorities sprang into action as word spread like wildfire through Darjeeling's tight-knit community. Police from the Sonada outpost, aided by disaster response teams from the district administration, launched a full-scale search operation at first light. Sniffer dogs and earth-movers were deployed to sift through the collapsed wooden beams and mud-slicked earth, while drones scanned the treacherous terrain for any signs of life. The incident underscores the vulnerabilities of remote hill accommodations ill-equipped for extreme weather.

In Dakshin Kamarpol, over 600 kilometers away in the flatlands of West Bengal, Himadri's relatives gathered in a vigil of prayers and shared memories. Neighbors and kin formed a support circle, fielding calls from well-wishers while grappling with the void left by his absence. "He'd call every night without fail, sharing stories of the mountains that made our hearts swell with pride," shared an uncle, his words heavy with unspoken dread. Yet, beneath the urgency lies a deeper sorrow—the fear that a son's dream of distant horizons might end in isolation.

As the sun dipped low today, casting long shadows over Sonada's scarred landscape, glimmers of solidarity emerged. Elected local representatives visited the Purkait home in South 24 Parganas, offering condolences and promises of unwavering support. In a region where landslides are as routine as the morning mist, this incident serves as a stark reminder: the hills, for all their beauty, demand respect—and readiness—from those who call them temporary homes.