Rain fury grips Bengal: Darjeeling records 153 mm, landslide hits rural hospital

A landslide struck a rural hospital in Darjeeling in the early hours of Friday as the district recorded a staggering 153 mm of rain in 24 hours, with the India Meteorological Department warning of more heavy to very heavy showers across the hills and several other parts of West Bengal.

The landslide hit Takdah Rural Hospital around 3 am, affecting the hospital premises and injuring a patient’s relative slightly, Darjeeling district magistrate Harishankar Panicker said on Friday.

No patients were injured in the incident, the district magistrate said. They were subsequently shifted to the district hospital as a precaution.

The incident came amid an intense spell of rain that has affected large parts of West Bengal, with Darjeeling and other areas of north Bengal witnessing particularly heavy showers. Landslides were also reported at several other locations in Darjeeling district.

According to the district administration, the debris from the landslides was cleared quickly and most roads remained open to traffic.

However, with more rain forecast over the weekend, fresh landslides remain a concern in the hill districts.

Darjeeling received 153 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours till 8.30 am on Friday, the highest recorded in West Bengal during the period, according to IMD data. Kalimpong recorded 113 mm.

The weather office has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in Darjeeling until Saturday morning.

Heavy rain is expected to continue thereafter until Sunday. Similar conditions are likely in Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri.

The IMD has specifically warned of the possibility of landslides in Darjeeling and Kalimpong as the hills continue to receive intense rainfall.

The impact of the weather system has been felt well beyond the northern hills.

Several districts in western and southern West Bengal are also expected to receive heavy rain until Saturday morning.

Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram are among the districts forecast to receive heavy showers.

Rainfall figures recorded across the state underline the intensity and spread of the spell.

Siliguri received 84 mm of rain, while Bagdogra recorded 80 mm. Medinipur registered 74 mm, followed by Purulia at 56 mm and Kalaikunda at 54 mm.

Kolkata:

Kolkata was also affected by the spell, recording 36 mm of rainfall during the same 24-hour period. Neighbouring Dum Dum received 32 mm, according to the IMD.

The latest spell of rain comes as a low-pressure system over south Odisha and adjoining Chhattisgarh continues to influence weather conditions across Bengal.

The system has weakened from a well-marked low-pressure area into a depression and is moving north-northwestwards towards Chhattisgarh. 

The system is expected to gradually move away, but its influence on Bengal is likely to persist through the weekend. The weather office has indicated that rainfall will begin to ease from Sunday, with conditions expected to improve further next week.

North Bengal remains the area of greatest concern because of the combination of intense rainfall and vulnerable hill slopes. Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri are expected to remain under the influence of heavy rain, while the possibility of landslides could pose further challenges to road connectivity and movement in the hills.

The weather office has also forecast very heavy rain in north Bengal, with heavy rainfall warnings issued for Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Alipurduar.

Thunderstorms accompanied by rain are possible across all districts of the region, while Jalpaiguri could receive heavy rain on Saturday.

South Bengal:

Heavy rainfall is expected in six districts on Friday. East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Birbhum, Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura and Purulia are likely to receive heavy showers. Coastal parts of South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and West Midnapore may experience gusty winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph.

Other districts are likely to see light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph.

For now, authorities in the hills remain watchful as saturated slopes and continuing rainfall keep the risk of landslides alive. While major roads have largely remained functional after debris was cleared, the forecast of another spell of heavy rain means Darjeeling and neighbouring hill districts will remain on alert until conditions begin to ease.