Teesta floods sever Darjeeling-Kalimpong road link; IMD warns of more rain and landslides

Heavy rainfall across the hilly districts of North Bengal has caused the Teesta River to overflow, crossing the danger mark and flooding major roadways. Water from the river has submerged large portions of National Highway-10, particularly the Rabijhora and 29 Mile stretches, disrupting movement between Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The main road near the Teesta bridge has gone completely underwater, forcing authorities to suspend vehicle movement since Monday night and advise travellers to use alternative routes.

The administration has stated that the soil in several hill areas has started loosening due to continuous rain, increasing the risk of landslides. The floodwaters and unstable terrain have rendered some roads unsafe for travel. Rescue and monitoring teams are actively stationed at key points across affected regions. Authorities have also placed restrictions on access to vulnerable zones to prevent accidents.

According to forecasts, districts including Malda, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri are expected to receive light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and wind speeds of 30 to 40 km/h on Tuesday. Similar weather conditions are expected to continue on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall between 7 and 11 cm is likely in districts such as Alipurduar and Cooch Behar, as per the issued warning.

With rainfall persisting, landslide warnings have been issued for the hilly regions. The administration is maintaining continuous surveillance in high-risk zones and has kept emergency services on standby. Travellers and residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary movement through flood-affected and landslide-prone areas.