Landslides, flood rip through 102 Mirik houses, locals shift to camps
Times of India | 8 October 2025Several of the victims had come to their kin's home to celebrate Nepali festival Dashain.
Locals recalled the devastating landslides of July 2003 that claimed 24 lives, and July 2015, when 19 were killed and an entire village was wiped out.
Residents said their ancestors often described the region as "raatey-maatey" — the "land of red soil". But that very red earth, they said, turned treacherous during heavy rains, losing its grip as water seeped through, bringing the hills down with it.
"I have been witnessing such landslides since I was a child," said Ashish Pradhan, 50, a resident of Thana Line.
"Small slides burying houses used to be common every monsoon in Mirik. But, the major ones struck a village in Ghayabari in July 2003, killing at least 24. Then came the Tingling landslide that claimed 19 lives in July 2015," said Pradhan, who now lives in Siliguri.
Major connectivity between Siliguri and Mirik remains cut off after the iron bridge at Dudhey, about 25 km from Siliguri, was washed away in the torrential rains that triggered multiple landslides.
Among the deceased was eight-year-old Aarushi Chhetri, a resident of Fapri in Siliguri. Aarushi came to Mirik with her elder sister to celebrate Dashain. A relative said: "It was raining heavily when the accident happened. When we reached, the house was gone — it collapsed completely."
Similarly, eight-year-old Aahan Chettri, a resident of Bishnu Lal village, and 11-year-old Ruhi Bhutia also lost their lives when their house was hit by a landslide.
The kids were asleep in one room while their mother was in another.
According to Mirik Municipality chairman LB Rai, all nine wards have been affected and relief materials are being provided. "Three relief camps have been set up at 9th Mile, Soureni Bazar and Mirik Town. We have also set up community kitchens where needed," said Rai.
At a relief camp in Mirik Town, Priya Gurung, a resident of Thana Line, said: "We were asleep when thunder and lightning struck around 4.30 am.
Suddenly, a landslide hit our house. We had to rescue our parents through the ventilation." GTA chief executive Anit Thapa visited Mirik to assess the situation.
Vehicles are now being diverted via Ghum to Siliguri along NH-110. Another route has been made operational through Tingling-Putung-Belgachi-Panighatta-Naxalbari-Bagdogra-Siliguri. CM Mamata Banerjee has assured that the iron bridge at Dudhey would be reconstructed in a year. She also said a temporary bridge would be ready in 20 days.
