Bridge washed away as heavy rain lashes North Bengal; 1 killed in Alipurduar
The Statesman | 20 June 2026
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday, June 19, said though the flood and river situation across North Bengal remained largely under control despite heavy rainfall, a person had died in Alipurduar, while a temporary bridge was washed away out the Balason River at Dushia in Darjeeling district.
Addressing a press conference at Nabanna, Adhikari said water levels in the Teesta River near Mekhliganj had risen marginally above the danger mark, while reports of damage in terms of land and mudslides had been received from parts of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area, Rangli-Rangliot, Phansidewa and Gorubathan blocks.
The Chief Minister confirmed one rain-related death in Bholanala in the Hasimara area of Alipurduar district. The victim, a child from a tea garden family, died amid the adverse weather conditions.
Describing the incident as tragic, Adhikari said the state government had sanctioned compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the bereaved family through the district administration.
Several minor landslides were reported from different parts of Darjeeling district, including near Loreto Convent School, Gayabari under Mirik Block and areas under Mungpoo. Most of the affected stretches were cleared within hours and normal movement restored, he said.
The most significant damage occurred at Dudhia, where a temporary bridge over the Balason River was washed away early on Friday following a sharp rise in water levels caused by intense overnight rainfall in the Darjeeling hills. The collapse snapped the strategically important Siliguri-Mirik road link and forced authorities to divert traffic.
Officials said the upper catchment areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik received heavy rainfall throughout the night, resulting in a sudden surge in the river.
The incident has revived concerns over the vulnerability of infrastructure in the Himalayan region during the monsoon season. Last year, extensive rainfall and landslides affected large parts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, damaging roads, bridges and public infrastructure and claiming several lives.
The Bailey bridge at Dudhia had also been washed away during last year’s monsoon. Following a visit to the area by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a temporary structure using pipes was constructed to restore connectivity between Siliguri and Mirik.
Referring to the latest collapse, Adhikari said questions regarding the quality of construction and possible irregularities would be examined later.
“A bridge built less than a year ago has been washed away. Whether there were issues relating to quality or construction standards will be looked into at the appropriate time. At present, our priority is to restore connectivity,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the Public Works Department had already mobilised materials and commenced restoration work. Financial and administrative approvals have been granted and the road is expected to be reopened within four to five days, subject to weather conditions.
The route serves as a vital corridor connecting Siliguri with Mirik, Darjeeling, Sikkim and neighbouring areas.
An alert has been sounded across five North Bengal districts — Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar — as continuous rainfall in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills over the past 48 hours has increased pressure on rivers and streams flowing downstream.
Officials are closely monitoring the Teesta basin, where runoff from Sikkim, the Darjeeling hills and adjoining Bhutan catchment areas is contributing to a steady rise in water levels. Authorities have intensified surveillance in vulnerable and low-lying areas of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts.
Despite forecasts of continued heavy rainfall and red alerts in some areas over the next two days, Adhikari said the overall situation remained under control.
He added that there were no reports of tourists being stranded in the hills. Control rooms have been set up by the Darjeeling district administration and the Siliguri Police Commissionerate to monitor the situation and coordinate emergency responses.
“If any tourists are found stranded, the administration will ensure their safe evacuation through diversion routes with full government support,” he said.
A senior state government official said that the district administration, police, the Irrigation and Waterways Department and disaster management authorities are maintaining round-the-clock monitoring as heavy rainfall is expected to continue across the region over the coming days.