The Darjeeling hills, often called the Queen of Hills, experienced severe destruction in October 2025 due to unprecedented heavy rainfall. The rain exceeded official warnings and caused deadly landslides and infrastructure collapse. This event marks long-term environmental changes and urgent challenges facing the region.
Historical Context of Natural Disasters
Darjeeling has a long history of natural calamities. Records show major landslides and floods dating back to the late 19th century. Notable disasters occurred in 1899, 1934, 1950, 1968, 1975, 1980, 1991, 2011 and 2015. The 1968 floods killed over a thousand people. Cloudbursts in the Teesta Valley were recorded nine times between 1902 and 1978. These events have shaped the region’s vulnerability.
Changing Rainfall Patterns and Climate Impact
Traditional monsoon rains have transformed in recent decades. The steady, spread-out rainfall has shifted to intense, short bursts lasting a few hours. Locally called ‘mushaldhare varsha’, this pattern increases the risk of sudden floods and landslides. Climate change is a key driver behind this shift, affecting the hills’ fragile ecology.
Population Growth and Unsustainable Development
Population increase due to migration from plains and neighbouring countries has put pressure on land resources. Rapid urbanisation and construction of hydroelectric projects, railways, and hotels have exceeded the hills’ carrying capacity. Unplanned settlements along riverbanks and streams block natural water flow, worsening flood risks.
Geographical and Hydrological Changes
Rivers and streams in the region have altered their courses unpredictably. These changes create new pathways for water to flow into human habitats, increasing vulnerability. The destruction of natural corridors by settlements and infrastructure disrupts drainage and accelerates soil erosion.
Institutional Gaps and Disaster Management Challenges
Local governance bodies lack resources, expertise and manpower to manage disasters effectively. The District Collector’s office and local administrations like the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration are ill-equipped for large-scale emergencies. Essential services such as solid waste management are inadequate, contributing to environmental degradation and disaster risks.
National Security and Economic Implications
Darjeeling’s geopolitical location near the chicken’s neck corridor makes its stability a national security concern. Climate change impacts threaten key economic sectors like tea production, tourism, and medicinal plant cultivation. Losses from disasters affect India’s foreign exchange earnings and regional development goals.
Calls for Regional Climate and Disaster Centres
Experts and local organisations urge the establishment of dedicated climate change and disaster management institutions for the Eastern Himalayas. Proposals include upgrading the Forest Rangers College in Kurseong into a regional centre. Such initiatives would support coordinated research and response across India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Tibet.
Policy and Strategic Importance
Darjeeling’s development and disaster management must be integrated into India’s Act East Policy. Its sensitive location and environmental challenges require national-level attention. Prioritising the hills as a national interest project can enhance security, economic resilience and climate adaptation.
Questions for UPSC:
- Discuss in the light of recent events how climate change influences hydrological disasters in mountainous regions, with examples from the Himalayas.
- Critically examine the role of local governance in disaster management in India’s hill areas and suggest measures to strengthen institutional capacities.
- Explain the strategic significance of the chicken’s neck corridor in India’s national security. How do environmental challenges in adjacent regions impact this?
- With suitable examples, discuss the impact of unplanned urbanisation on river ecosystems and flood risks in India’s vulnerable zones.
