The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has formally appealed to both the West Bengal Government and the Government of India to declare the recent floods and landslides across the Darjeeling hills as a natural disaster. The plea comes after weeks of relentless rainfall caused unprecedented damage, devastating homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods across the region.
This rare and urgent demand, backed by members across political lines in the GTA Sabha, aims to secure state and national disaster recognition, which would activate access to emergency funds, rehabilitation measures, and long-term infrastructural rebuilding in the fragile Himalayan district.
Deluge in Darjeeling: A Region in Crisis
The early October deluge in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts triggered massive landslides and flash floods, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Torrential rain battered the hills for days, washing away bridges, roads, and farmlands. Entire slopes collapsed under the weight of saturated soil, cutting off villages and displacing hundreds of families.
According to the preliminary estimates by the GTA, the total loss is close to ₹950 crore, covering damages to houses, roads, tea gardens, and public utilities. At least 21 lives were lost, and dozens more are missing. Remote hamlets like Lava, Loleygaon, Bijanbari, and Mirik remain cut off due to broken communication networks and impassable roads.
Local administration and volunteers have been working around the clock to deliver food and medical aid to stranded villagers. Helicopter sorties have been used to airlift the injured and drop relief materials. Yet, residents continue to struggle with water contamination, food scarcity, and electricity breakdowns.
The disaster has exposed the vulnerability of the hills — a region where development has always been constrained by terrain and limited administrative reach.
GTA Sabha Reconvenes After Months of Dormancy
The calamity prompted a rare and emergency meeting of the GTA Sabha after months of inactivity. The Sabha, chaired by Anjul Chowhan, saw unprecedented unity among rival factions, as leaders from various political parties agreed to prioritize relief and restoration over politics.
Chief Executive Anit Thapa stressed the urgency of a disaster declaration, noting that only such a status would unlock large-scale relief assistance and institutional support from both state and central agencies.
A special Disaster Coordination Committee has been constituted within the GTA to coordinate data collection, monitor aid distribution, and communicate directly with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Why Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) is Seeking a Disaster Tag
Declaring the calamity as a “disaster” under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 would bring significant benefits for the people of the hills.
It would enable:
- Access to State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
- Immediate release of financial assistance for housing, compensation, and infrastructure rebuilding.
- Exemption from procedural delays in procurement and construction.
- Special rehabilitation packages for the displaced and the affected tea garden workers.
- The deployment of national agencies like the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for post-disaster restoration.
The GTA leadership emphasized that the people of Darjeeling have endured immense suffering, and it is time for the government to recognize the event as a major natural calamity.
Damage and Impact Assessment
The GTA’s initial report indicates extensive losses:
- Roads & Bridges: Key lifelines like the Peshok Road, Rishi Road, and sections of NH-55 (Darjeeling–Siliguri highway) have collapsed.
- Housing: Hundreds of homes in low-lying areas and hill slopes have been completely destroyed or rendered unsafe.
- Tea Gardens: Floods have affected more than a dozen tea estates, damaging crops and halting production.
- Utilities: Water pipelines, power lines, and mobile towers were severely disrupted, affecting communication and sanitation.
Officials reported that over 8000 people are living in temporary relief shelters. Schools and community halls have been converted into emergency housing zones.
Political and Administrative Responses
The tragedy has sparked strong political responses across West Bengal.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has personally reviewed reports from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar, promising comprehensive rehabilitation. Her administration has already deployed senior officials from the Disaster Management Department and Public Works Department (PWD) to assess the infrastructure damage.
Meanwhile, GTA Chief Anit Thapa has urged both the Chief Minister’s Office and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to expedite relief funds. Opposition leader Ajoy Edwards has also extended his support, stating that the hills must not suffer administrative neglect during such a humanitarian crisis.
The GTA Disaster Coordination Committee, led by Kamal Subba, will soon submit a detailed memorandum to both the State and Central governments seeking the official disaster status.
The Human Cost: Voices from the Hills
Residents describe the calamity as the worst they have witnessed in decades. Entire families have lost their homes overnight. Tea workers in Mirik and Mungpoo recount that the heavy rain washed away plantations and access roads, making it impossible to reach nearby towns.
One resident from Pulbazar, Maya Tamang, said, “We have no home, no field, and no bridge to cross the river. We depend entirely on relief now.”
Volunteers from the Indian Red Cross Society and local NGOs like Save Hills Initiative have been distributing food, clothes, and medical aid. However, landslides have made transportation extremely challenging, and relief often arrives after days of delay.
Environmental Concerns and Long-Term Solutions
Environmentalists have linked the scale of the disaster to unchecked hill construction, deforestation, and illegal quarrying. Experts from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata have pointed out that climate change has intensified the monsoon pattern in the Himalayas, causing short bursts of extremely heavy rainfall.
They recommend:
- Enforcing strict land-use regulations in the hills.
- Setting up early warning systems in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
- Conducting geological mapping to identify high-risk landslide zones.
- Promoting sustainable eco-tourism instead of unplanned construction.
The GTA has pledged to incorporate these measures in its post-disaster planning.
Next Steps and Road Ahead
The GTA’s formal proposal will be submitted to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Government of India for approval.
Once accepted, the region will be eligible for:
- Financial packages from NDRF and SDRF.
- Special assistance from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for road reconstruction.
- Technical support from Central Water Commission (CWC) for river training and flood control.
- Long-term planning under the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF).
Local administration in Darjeeling and Kalimpong has begun mapping landslide-prone zones to prevent future disasters.
Government and Institutional Resources
For reference and further details on disaster management and relief mechanisms:
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): https://ndma.gov.in
- Disaster Management Department, Government of West Bengal: https://wbdmd.gov.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Disaster Management Division: https://www.mha.gov.in
- India Meteorological Department (IMD): https://mausam.imd.gov.in
- Central Water Commission (CWC): https://cwc.gov.in
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