October 5, 2025—Darjeeling, the crown jewel of West Bengal’s hill stations, lies reeling from a ferocious onslaught of torrential rains that began in the early hours of October 4, unleashing a cascade of landslides, bridge collapses, and flash floods that have claimed at least six lives and left scores missing. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has escalated to a Red Alert for the northern districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri, warning of continued heavy downpours and high landslide risks until October 7,