Extreme rainfall event in the Darjeeling district: 04/05Oct2025 (Part IIIB - damage caused by 'non- fatal landslides')

 Non - fatal landslides

The intense storm of 04–05 October 2025 triggered numerous non-fatal, rain-induced landslides of varying types and magnitudes across the Darjeeling–Kalimpong region (see above). Official estimates place the number of landslides in Darjeeling district alone at nearly 500. Given the scale of the event and the difficulty of surveying each site, this report focuses on a selection of the major landslides.

Seeyok Tea Garden - Sukhia block.

a. Area involved: Goddam dhura Ward 10 consists of 336 people in 87 homes.

b. Circumstances: Heavy rainfall began across the region on the evening of 04 October 2025. As the intensity increased, several residents—most of them tea garden workers—woke their neighbours and urged them to move to safer ground. One woman, an ASHA worker who had received RED alerts on her mobile phone, also went door-to-door warning others of the danger. Around 2 a.m. on 05 October 2025, a massive landslide struck, accompanied by a deafening roar reminiscent of an explosion. The Rangli River, normally a small stream, had swollen into a torrent, altered its course, and swept away two bridges in the area.
c. Damage: 7 homes completely damaged, 3 partially damaged. Livestock has been lost and vegetable gardens are ruined. Roads in the area are in a mess. 32 people were living in a relief camp. Many vehicles and two wheelers belonging to the community were washed away.

Goddam Dhura after the deluge of 05Oct2025. It is amazing that even after such devastation,
no one died - in large part due to the alertness of the community and timely evacuation to safer ground.

The tea industry, both in the Dooars and the hills, suffered huge losses because of the heavy rains. Here you see large landslides ruining parts of a garden - Goddam Dhura is visible in the valley below.

Drone image of Goddam Dhura on 17Oct2025. The rampage and destruction by the river is very apparent.

Taba Koshi, Mirik Subdivision (Coords 26.921391N 88.173500E)

a. Area: Taba Koshi is a series of around 40 homestays along the Rangbangh river which came up during the time of Subash Ghisingh and which started flourishing once road communication links from the area to Siliguri, Mirik and so on were established.
On 04Oct2025, due to the festive season, almost all the homestays were full with tourists from the plains.
b. Circumstances: As in other areas, rainfall started during the day on 04Oct2025 but intensified after 6pm and became really heavy later. Noticing the Rangbangh river had started crossed all danger levels, the locals started evacuating their guests to safer places after midnight. The power supply which had been erratic, thru the day because of the intense lightning on 04Oct2025 went OFF altogether at night so everything had to be done in pitch darkness and in heavy rain. So it was nothing short of a miracle that no one died.

c. Damages/loss: Many of the homestays were damaged as the Rangbangh river surged into the compounds and swept away vehicles as well as parts of the homestays in the early hours of 05Oct2025. There was significant damage to roads as well as to power lines and poles.

Damage to homes and infrastructure at Taba Koshi by the Rangbangh river - photo taken on 17Oct2025 more than two weeks after the deluge.

The Rangbangh river seen here is by all accounts a tiny stream which on the 05Oct2025 became a roaring torrent after the heavy rainfall on 04/05Oct2025. The river changed its course and threatened many homestays which were otherwise quite far from the river. Here, an earthmoving equipment is being used to correct the river's path.

The rampaging Rangbangh river caused extensive damage to roads and bridges at Taba Koshi on 04/05Oct2025.

A vehicle drives over a temporary bridge made of hewn pipes because of damage to the original bridge by the river on 05Oct2025

A smashed vehicle lying on the banks of Rangbangh river. Many such vehicles were lost because the homestay owners never believed the river, otherwise a tiny stream was capable of such devastation.

Massively eroded part of a homestay at Taba Koshi.

Damaged parts of a homestay and power lines at Taba Koshi, Mirik.

On 05Oct2025, a tiny stream (Rangbangh river) transformed into a rampaging torrent and brought down these massive boulders to a homestay at Taba Koshi.

This is the heart of tea country in Darjeeling district and the havoc wreaked by the rain and ensuing landslides is huge. Large parts of tea gardens have been severely mauled by the disaster o 04/05Oct2025.

Report by STH Survey team (which will be updated as and when possible)

From Left to Right
Steve Rai(interviews and videos with Praveen)
Yukta Acharya (Interviews and records): yuktaa1999@gmail.com
Shreya Gurung (Interviews): shreyagurung07@gmail.com
Praveen Chhetri (all drone images and photographs): junkeristudio@gmail.com

with sincere thanks and appreciation to Roshan, Rajen bhai and Priya of Darjeeling Himalaya Initiative (DHI)
and also to Aachal (Anugyalaya DDSSS) for helping with resource persons and information.

Praful Rao
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744