Rainfall data of Jun 2026 of some towns of Sub-Himalayan W Bengal (SHWB) and Sikkim.

 

Progress of the monsoons (Jun2026)
Technically, the monsoons in India covers the months of June/July/August and September. News paper clips and data which highlight the progress of the monsoon in June 2026 are below:

The monsoons finally arrived over the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya on 10Jun2026 and with it the IMD issued an ORANGE warning (see above) for thundershowers and rain on 10/11Jun2026.
Rainfall in June was initially deficient but picked up towards the last week of June2026:

Extreme rainfall event of 18Jun2026: covered here

IMPACTS 
The impact of the rains was mostly felt after mid-June when the rains intensified and it was mostly limited to roads and infrastructure.The impact at Mirik after the 18Jun2026 rains has already been covered.
News clips on the impact are reproduced below:

Praful Rao
SaveTheHills
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

SaveTheHills photo exhibit on 'The Teesta Valley GLOF disaster - the unheard voices' renewed till April2028 (by Social Documentary Network).

Exactly a year ago, I published a report on the Social Documentary Network (SDN) titled “Teesta Valley GLOF Disaster – The Unheard Voices.”

For those unfamiliar, SDN is a ‘global platform for documentary photographers and visual storytellers, with a strong focus on social, environmental, and human-rights issues, featuring the work of around 3,000 photographers worldwide’ (ChatGPT).

A few days ago, I was notified by SDN that the GLOF exhibit was due for renewal, which involved a fee in US dollars. However, there was also an option to apply for a fee waiver. I’m happy to share that considering our work, SDN has graciously waived the renewal fee until Apr2028.

This means our Teesta Valley GLOF exhibit will continue to remain accessible on a respected international photojournalism platform. I have also updated and refined the exhibit, and it is now available to view here.

I would urge you to take a look and share it further. The disaster remains largely unknown beyond the region, and greater awareness is essential so that the scale of the tragedy—and its continuing impact—is not forgotten.

Praful Rao,
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

Extreme rainfall event in Kalimpong district: 04/05Oct2025 ('Impact on Teesta Bazar')

The first photographic records of major flooding at Teesta Bazar is of the October 1968 disaster when extensive portions of the settlement were washed away by the Teesta River. The event also led to the collapse of the Andersen Bridge — a key river crossing at Teesta Bazar — reportedly as a result of the sudden failure of a landslide-dammed lake located further upstream.
Subsequent decades saw recurring flood impacts in the area. In October 2023, Teesta Bazar was severely affected by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) originating from the upper Teesta basin. This event caused extensive damage along the Teesta valley and was documented in detail by SaveTheHills (STH).
In July 2024, the locality again experienced significant flooding. Despite detailed recommendations submitted by STH regarding necessary mitigation and risk-reduction measures following the 2023 event, most corrective actions remained unimplemented. Consequently, the warning issued in the 2024 report — “Failure to take timely corrective action will mean a repetition of this whole scenario once again in 2025” — was validated when a similar flood event reoccurred in October 2025.
This pattern underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and coordinated flood mitigation interventions at Teesta Bazar, including structural and non-structural measures, to prevent further recurrence of such disasters in the future.
As expected the town again experienced major floods during the deluge of 04/05/Oct2025. STH photographer Praveen Chhetri was available at site to record the event:

Submerged Darjeeling - Kalimpong road: Two women from Teesta bazar wistfully look at the flooded Kalimpong-Darjeeling road on 05Oct2025. 
I took the photo (below) from almost the same spot on the Teesta bridge in 2024 when the river had receded and the submerged homes alongside the road were visible.
This road passes thru Teesta bazar and every time it is flooded, we have to take a lengthy 6hr detour instead of the normal 2hrs to/from Darjeeling.

Drone image of the flooded Darjeeling-Kalimpong road at Teesta bazar on 05Oct2025

On 05Oct2025, the Teesta submerged this junction of NH10 and the road to/from Darjeeling (where motorcyclists have assembled). In the distant, the Teesta bridge linking Gangtok and Kalimpong is visible - the river is huge and stretches from one bank to the other.

Trees, stumps and debris were again dumped on the Darjeeling-Kalimpong road below the Teesta bridge by the floods of 05Oct2025.

Almost an annual event - flooded homes in Teesta bazar on 05Oct2025.

The Teesta flowing bank to bank on 05Oct2025. NH10 which connects Siliguri to Gangtok is blocked at Rabi Jhora which is a small flooded bridge on the right bank. This extreme event took place at the peak of festivities and Puja season with hundreds of vehicles choking the highways and roads. 

All photos (except one taken in 2024) by Praveen Chhetri @ Junkeri Studios, Kalimpong. My grateful thanks to Praveen (junkeristudio@gmail.com) for photographing the event as a historical record. 

Praful Rao
SaveTheHills
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

A post GLOF look at the Teesta bazar and its vicinity (Part -1)

A few days ago, a friend called from Mangan, the headquarters of North Sikkim district, eager to witness the aftermath of the Teesta Valley Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) that occurred on October 4, 2023. She expressed difficulty in identifying the affected areas. I empathized, recalling how we began documenting the disaster through photographs and recordings on the very day it happened.

Over a year has passed, including a full monsoon season. During this time, nature has altered the landscape, roads and homes have been repaired, and damaged machinery and assets have been removed or replaced. These changes underscore the importance of promptly documenting disasters, at least through photography, to capture the immediate impact before recovery efforts and natural processes transform the scene.

The Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) on October 4, 2023, caused the Teesta River's level to surge by approximately 3 to 4 meters throughout the valley. This event deposited substantial silt and debris along the river's course. While monsoon floods have since washed away some of these deposits, the river is gradually reestablishing its natural channel—a process that can span several years. Consequently, we must brace for potential challenges during upcoming monsoon seasons. The current dry season offers an ideal window for implementing necessary preparations; however, I have observed a concerning lack of such proactive measures and towards this end we have voiced our concern by writing to the highest levels in the country.

With regard to the disaster, I made a visit on 18Dec2024 to the Teesta bazar and its vicinity to check and photograph the area. My report:

a. River Condition:
The Teesta River has shed much of the silt and debris left by the October 2023 GLOF and is regaining its characteristic emerald-green winter hue. In some areas, the river has carved out a defined channel, reducing its erratic flow over the 3-4 meter thick debris layer deposited during the disaster.

b. Disaster Mitigation Efforts:
No visible disaster mitigation efforts were underway in Teesta Bazar or its surrounding areas. Residents I spoke to expressed deep frustration over the lack of action.

c. Local Economy - Rafting Resumes:
Rafting activities have resumed in the Teesta/Labar Boatay area, providing direct and indirect employment to approximately 2,000 people.

d. Tribeni Covid Hospital:
A footpath to the Tribeni Covid Hospital is functional. However, much of the hospital's infrastructure has been either looted or washed away by the floods, leaving it in a dire state.

e. NH10 Road Conditions:
On the short stretch of NH10 I traveled, significant repair work was underway near Likhu Bhir. However, areas around the 29th mile and Melli remain vulnerable, with visible cracks and sinking sections near the riverbank. These areas are at serious risk of collapse during the next heavy rains.
Placed below are images of the area:

Documentation of parts of the above report was supported by Royal Enfield, as part of their Social Mission Initiative


Praful Rao
SaveTheHills
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

Rainfall data of August 2024 of some towns in Sub-Himalayan W Bengal and Sikkim

The National Highway 10 (NH10) which connects Siliguri to Gangtok and is the lifeline for Sikkim and Kalimpong district runs along the river valley almost hugging the banks of the river for almost 50 odd km. The monsoons extracted a heavy price for this closeness in Aug2024 - the highway was closed for almost 20 days due to landslides and erosion.

As per the above data:

• Darjeeling, Kalimpong (in West Bengal), Gangtok, Mangan, Damthang (in Sikkim) recd almost normal rainfall.
• Kalimpong, Siliguri, Jhallong, Alipur Duar (W Bengal) and Dentam in Sikkim recd went deficient in rainfall.
• Most of the rainfall occurred in the first half of the month (see below).
  
  This was undoubtedly due to the low pressure areas and depressions which formed in the Bay of Bengal and moved towards western India, which resulted in surplus rainfall in those parts towards the end of Aug2024 (see above).
  
  

  
  

  

  Major Landslide
  A major landslide occurred in Sikkim on 20Aug2024 at Dipu Dara, just above NHPC Stage V Power House at Baluatar.
  We have covered the entire incident in our previous blog report
  

  
  Documentation of a part of the above report was supported by Royal Enfield, as part of their Social Mission Initiative
  
  
  Praful Rao
  SaveTheHills
  savethehills@gmail.com
  9475033744
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

 

Impact of the Oct 2023 Teesta Valley GLOF: Photosurvey of the Geil khola - Likhu bhir section of NH10 on 23Aug2024

NH10 winds itself along the banks of the Teesta river. Gangtok and Kalimpong are towards the right hand side whereas Siliguri is towards the left.

The monsoons have been playing truant in our region recently. Broadly speaking, after the heavy rains in Jun2024, going into mid July, we had less rain towards the latter part of July2024 and deficient rains in August2024.
The deficient rainfall is worrisome in terms of water availability in our region but has allowed the NH10 repairs to progress and yesterday (23Aug2024) the highway was declared open once more:

I photographed the Geil Khola - Likhu Bhir section on 23Aug2024 and have placed several large images of this area which has been one of the most troublesome part of NH10 for maintenance after the Oct 2023 Teesta Valley GLOF in the hope that it may benefit  researchers, engineers and especially lay people who use the highway. You might even like to compare these recent images with our report of the same area done on 18Oct2023.

With the river flowing 4-5m above pre-GLOF levels, it is now running close to the level of the road (and also closer to the IRCON tunnel as well), increasing erosion of the road and the maintenance problems. Teesta bridge is in the top right hand corner.

This image clearly shows how close the river is to Teesta bazar (top right hand corner) of which several areas are sinking and the level of the river between Rabi jhora (see map) and the Teesta bridge thru which the Darjeeling- Kalimpong is routed.

Notice the level of the Teesta as it hugs the NH10 in between Geil Khola (extreme right) and the settlement (29Mile or Baluatar) at the center of the photo.

Section of NH10 between Baluatar (settlement on the right hand side) and Teesta Low Dam Project III (TLDPIII), left top.

The Likhu Bhir section of the NH10 - perhaps the most troublesome part for maintenance as well as traffic jams.

Geil khola - Likhu Bhir - Teesta Bridge (top right) section. The post -GLOF Teesta river is flowing bank to bank even with deficient rainfall in Darjeeling -Sikkim Himalaya over the past two weeks. We still have a month or more of rains left.

Documentation of the above report supported by Royal Enfield, as part of its Social Mission Initiative

Praful Rao
SaveTheHills,
Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

Rainfall data of July 2024 of some towns in Sub-Himalayan W Bengal and Sikkim

IMPACT OF THE JULY 2024 RAINS AT TEESTA BAZAR:
Some young men at Teesta bazar had started a two wheeler repair business in this shop on the Darjeeling-Kalimpong road after they shovelled out all the sand and debris brought in by the 04Oct2023 disaster (notice the damaged ceiling fans). The rains of July2024 put an end to their business venture and dreams when the Teesta river, flowing in the vicinity and almost at the same level flooded their shop again during heavy rains.

Rainfall normally peaks in July during the monsoons after which the rainfall gradually declines in August and Sept with the monsoons normally exiting our region in October.
As is clearly visible from the top data, rainfall was heavier in the Dooars area and foothills of Kalimpong district (and Bhutan hills).
IMPACT
The amount and intensity of rainfall impacted road communication a lot with NH10 and the Darjeeling - Kalimpong road being closed OFF and ON thru the month.

Even Rohini road to Darjeeling from Siliguri was closed for some time on 02Jul2024

                                Landslide near Loreto School, Darjeeling - 05July2024

INFACT NH10, WHICH HAD CLOSED ON 01JULY2024, COULD NOT BE RE-OPENED FOR TRAFFIC UNTIL 31JULY2024 - WHICH WAS THE LONGEST DURATION THAT THE HIGHWAY WAS CLOSED CONTINUOUSLY EVER - ALL DUE TO THE TEESTA VALLEY GLOF OF 04OCT2023.

Landslide on NH10, at Andheri, near Rangpo on 16July2024.

A low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal which brought in a drier spell of weather in our region after the heavy rains in the first half of July2024.

My thanks to all our What's App group ('Hazard Alerts') members whose images and stories I have used in this post

Praful Rao
with
Yukta Acharya

SaveTheHills
Kalimpong district
Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744