Erratic monsoon exposes Himalayan fragility, disrupts connectivity across North Bengal

The erratic monsoon has once again highlighted the growing vulnerability of the Himalayan region, with repeated landslides, flash floods and unstable weather disrupting normal life across the hills and adjoining plains of North Bengal.

National highway 10, the lifeline connecting Sikkim with the rest of the country, remained at the centre of the crisis. The highway was reopened on Wednesday morning after intensive efforts by restoration agencies. However, fresh rainfall triggered another landslide at Bardang, near the 20th Mile in Sikkim, covering the road with mud and debris and forcing the authorities to close the route once again. Restoration work continued at several vulnerable locations in Sikkim for the third consecutive day, with senior officials inspecting damaged stretches and reviewing repair measures.

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The repeated closure of NH-10 has left the tourism sector under severe stress. Tour operators say uncertainty over road connectivity has affected bookings during the peak travel season. “The highway has become extremely vulnerable at several locations. Frequent landslides make movement unpredictable,” said tour operator Samrat Sanyal.

Experts and local residents attribute the increasing vulnerability to changing river dynamics and extreme weather. Heavy silt deposition has altered the course of the Teesta at several points, causing the river to erode the hill slopes on which sections of NH-10 have been constructed. Combined with intense rainfall, the erosion has made several stretches highly susceptible to landslides.

The impact of the unstable weather extended beyond Sikkim. On Tuesday afternoon, heavy rainfall triggered landslides in the Takdah area of Darjeeling district, damaging several houses. Families living in vulnerable locations were shifted to a nearby primary school, where temporary shelter arrangements were made.

A dramatic flash flood in the Balason River at Dudhia on Tuesday evening narrowly avoided a major tragedy. Four young tourists were stranded after their vehicle became trapped in the riverbed as water levels rose suddenly. While attempting to escape by climbing onto the vehicle’s roof, two of them were swept into the current before local residents rescued them. On Wednesday, a recovery vehicle pulled the stranded car out of the river.

The plains presented a contrasting weather pattern. Despite the absence of significant rainfall, humidity remained exceptionally high until thick cloud cover developed later in the day. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall in neighbouring Bangladesh led to a sharp rise in the water level of the Kulik River, inundating parts of the Raiganj block in Uttar Dinajpur district. Floodwaters damaged rural roads and culverts after overflowing through connecting channels.

Heavy rainfall in parts of Bhutan triggered a flash flood in the Bhutan-fed Bangri River, sending a sudden surge of water across a road in the Dooars on Wednesday. Several stray dogs and goats were caught in the rushing waters and were swept away before they could reach safety. The incident occurred about an hour ago, highlighting the dangers posed by sudden flash floods in the region.