Wednesday, Mar 18, 2026 10:15 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Mar 17, 2026 17:09 [IST]
DARJEELING, : A sudden storm that struck the hills late on Monday evening caused
widespread damage to houses, disrupted road connectivity, and affected power
and communication services across the region.
Four
wooden houses were completely destroyed at Chatakpur in Upper Sonada, where
several electricity poles were also uprooted.
In
Mirik, six houses were damaged by strong winds at Sorsaley village. A vehicle
was also damaged after a tree fell on it.
In
a separate incident, a tourist from Kolkata and a driver sustained injuries
when a tree fell on their vehicle at Tukvar in Darjeeling. The vehicle was
returning from Pelling in Sikkim to Siliguri via Darjeeling. According to local
sources, the injured were taken to Jorethang Hospital for treatment.
At
Singtom Tea Garden, about 20 km from Darjeeling, a cremation ground was
reportedly damaged after a tree fell on it. Uprooted trees also blocked roads
at several locations, including areas below the Governor’s House and near Mt.
Hermon School in Darjeeling.
Pankhabari,
an alternative route connecting Kurseong and Siliguri, remained closed for a
brief period after a tree fell on the road. National Highway 10 (NH-10), the
main route linking Sikkim and Kalimpong to Siliguri, was also temporarily
blocked late in the evening due to a fallen tree near Hanuman Dara.
In
Kalimpong, a rehabilitation centre run by the NGO HANDS sustained major damage,
with its tin roof collapsing during the storm.
Power
supply was disrupted in both Kalimpong and Darjeeling towns due to damage to
electric poles and wires. Electricity was restored in Kalimpong in the morning
and in Darjeeling later in the evening. Mobile network services were also
affected in several areas throughout the day.
