Heavy rains in Darjeeling on Tuesday and Wednesday have triggered a series of landslides in which 38 people have lost their lives, while 23 have gone missing. According to media reports, over 500 people have been displaced in this tragedy. The worst hit areas are Mirik and Kalimpong. Twenty two people have died in Mirik alone, while 6 have died in Kalimpong.
The landslides have occurred at 25 places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions and have caused extensive damage to NH-10 and NH-55.
According to weathermen at Skymet, there are chances of more heavy rain in Darjeeling for the next 48 hours.
Rains in Sub Himalayan West Bengal usually happens in association with a Monsoon trough. The rainfall activity is more intense when the Monsoon trough shifts northwards and runs close to this area. Rainfall decreases only when there is a strong system in the Bay of Bengal as it changes the winds from westerlies to easterlies.
Currently, the eastern end of Monsoon trough is running very close to the region. There is also a low pressure area in Bihar and its adjoining areas, which is acting in tandem with the trough to give rain over Darjeeling and Sub Himalayan West Bengal.
According to the data available with Skymet, the town of Darjeeling recorded 15 mm of rain on Tuesday. Though, the adjoining areas like Mirik, Kurseong and Kalimpong observed good amounts of rain. In neighbouring Sikkim, Gangtok recorded 68 mm of rain on the same day, while Mangan and Gayalsingh recorded 59 and 57 mm of rain, respectively.
Image Credit: dhrs.org
