Torrential rains and catastrophic landslides have left a trail of devastation across northern India, as two of the country’s most iconic regions—Darjeeling and Himachal Pradesh—grapple with the aftermath of deadly natural disasters that struck in early October 2025. The calamities have not only claimed dozens of lives and displaced hundreds but have also delivered a massive blow to the livelihoods of millions, particularly those connected to India’s famed tea industry and rural communities.
In Darjeeling, a district synonymous with some of the world’s most sought-after teas, the scale of destruction is unprecedented. According to the Indian Tea Association, approximately five percent of Darjeeling’s premier tea estates were wiped out by the deluge that began on October 3. Rajkumar Mondal, chairman of the association’s Dooars Chapter, told AFP, “The flood has dealt a massive blow to the tea gardens.” He detailed that more than 950 hectares of tea plantations in Darjeeling’s hills, which are renowned for their high-quality brews with a protected Geographical Indication, suffered “drastic losses due to flooding.”
Darjeeling, which typically produces around 10,000 tonnes of tea each year across 17,500 hectares, now faces a daunting recovery. The region received over 261 mm (10 inches) of rain on Saturday, October 4—a staggering amount by any standard. Mondal, reflecting the shock felt by many in the area, said, “It’s unprecedented—I have never experienced such a disaster in my life.” The timing of the rains was especially cruel, coming just before a "new flush," the harvest of the finest young leaf tips, which are the pride of Darjeeling’s tea industry.
As the floodwaters receded, the damage became painfully clear. “As the flood water receded, we have seen silt soil on the tea plants... it’s a costly affair to remove,” Mondal added. The disaster left not just economic scars but also a logistical nightmare for garden owners and workers who must now tackle the expensive and labor-intensive process of restoring their fields. The monsoon downpours, which began on October 3, have since eased, but the destruction they left behind is still being tallied.
The cause of the extreme rainfall, according to Sourish Bandopadhyay, a scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, was “an unexpected change in the trajectory of a low-pressure system,” which brought the intense rains. He noted, “It’s a sign of climate change in the region.” This sentiment is echoed by many experts and officials, who point to the increasing intensity and unpredictability of weather patterns as evidence of a changing climate—especially in the fragile Himalayan foothills where tea is grown.
The human toll has been devastating. Praween Prakash, superintendent of police for Darjeeling, reported that at least 36 people have died due to the landslides and floods as of October 7. More than 500 houses were destroyed, forcing hundreds into temporary shelters. Roads have been washed away, and landslides have severed critical connections across West Bengal state. Tourists caught in the chaos were rescued by earthmovers, as officials worked around the clock to reach those stranded by the disaster.
India’s tea industry, already under pressure from rising temperatures and unpredictable weather, now faces another daunting challenge. The Tea Board of India warns that intense downpours cause waterlogging and soil erosion, while longer dry spells have forced tea estates to rely increasingly on irrigation. Additionally, growers are dealing with new pests and diseases, leading to higher use of fertilizers and pesticides in an effort to maintain soil fertility and protect their crops. The industry supports more than one million workers directly, with another million in supporting roles. India remains the world’s second-largest tea producer and third-largest black tea exporter, shipping nearly 255,000 metric tonnes abroad in 2024 and earning about 71 billion rupees ($850 million), according to official data.
While Darjeeling reeled from the aftermath of the floods, tragedy struck further north in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district. On the evening of October 7, a private bus carrying 30 to 35 passengers was buried under debris from a massive landslide near the Bhallu Bridge in the Bhalughat area of the Jhandutta assembly segment. The bus, on its way from Haryana’s Rohtak to Ghumarwin, was caught as the entire hill collapsed onto it following heavy rain.
The consequences were grim. At least 18 people were killed and three rescued from the wreckage, including three children who were taken to a hospital in Berthin near Bilaspur for treatment. The Bilaspur area had been experiencing intermittent rainfall since October 6, compounding the risk of such disasters. A video from the site captured the desperate rescue efforts, with a JCB machine clearing debris as onlookers and officials scrambled to save those trapped in the wreckage. “The whole mountain came crashing down on the bus, and chances of survival of passengers are bleak,” a police official told PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded swiftly, announcing compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured. “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu ordered urgent rescue operations and has been closely monitoring the situation. “In this massive landslide, tragic news has come of 10 people losing their lives after a private bus was caught in it, and there is apprehension that several others may be trapped under the debris,” Sukhu wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He added, “Rescue operations are ongoing on a war footing. Instructions have been given to the authorities to deploy their full machinery.” Jeet Ram Katwal, the MLA from Jhandutta, visited the site to assess the ongoing rescue operations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and President Droupadi Murmu also expressed their condolences and prayers for the victims. Shah stated, “NDRF teams have reached the incident site and are engaged in rescue operations. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. At the same time, I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.” President Murmu echoed these sentiments, calling the accident “extremely tragic.”
As rescue efforts continue and communities begin to pick up the pieces, the dual disasters in Darjeeling and Himachal Pradesh underscore the growing vulnerability of India’s mountainous regions to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather. For the families mourning lost loved ones, the tea workers facing economic uncertainty, and the officials racing to restore normalcy, the events of October 2025 serve as a sobering reminder of nature’s unpredictable power—and the urgent need for resilience in the face of mounting environmental challenges.