Himadri Purkait, a 24-year-old third-year Sociology student at Jadavpur University, would pack his backpack, and travel whenever he got an opportunity. This time his destination was Darjeeling in West Bengal.

According to his family, Himadri left his home in the Kamarpol village of the state’s South 24 Parganas district for Darjeeling on September 22 and arrived at the popular tourist destination on September 26. He got a job as a receptionist at a lodge. His family said he often takes up odd jobs to fund his trips.

At least 20 people have been killed and scores are missing after heavy rain lashed the Himalayan region of West Bengal on Saturday night, triggering large-scale landslides in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong.

This was not the first time that Himadri had travelled to the hills. He had visited them several times before and would sometimes work as a guide, as he was familiar with the area.

Shukla Purkait, Himadri’s mother, has been constantly looking at her phone, and waiting for it to ring with her younger son’s name flashing on the screen.

“I last spoke to him on Saturday at around 10 pm. He told me he had just finished dinner, and that there was a lot of work pressure because many of the lodge staff were on leave due to Dussehra. I told him it was raining very heavily and asked him to go to a safer location. He said he was fine and was going to sleep,” she said.

“We used to talk every day, but since Sunday morning his phone has been switched off. He goes away like this — last time, he travelled for six months at a stretch. He leaves whenever he feels like it.”

According to the Purkait family, no one from the lodge has contacted them. The Indian Express reached out to the local police in Darjeeling, but they have yet to respond. Rescue operations in the area are ongoing.

Himadri’s elder brother, Priobroto, told reporters, “He is a good student and loves to travel. He always says he will be financially independent and fund his own travels.”

“Himadri is a very joyful person and would always tell us where he was travelling and share his experiences with us,” a neighbour of the Purkait family said.

While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to leave for North Bengal Monday afternoon, BJP state president and MP Samik Bhattacharya reached Bagdogra in the morning to review the flood situation and provide aid.