NEW DELHI: Authorities across North Bengal have been placed on high alert after Bhutan’s Tala hydropower dam began overflowing due to a gate malfunction, raising fears of downstream flooding in West Bengal’s Dooars region. The warning comes as parts of the Darjeeling hills continue to reel under the impact of torrential rainfall and deadly landslides.The Druk green power corporation (DGPC) in Bhutan reported a technical failure in the dam’s gates, which failed to open, causing the river to spill over. The national centre for hydrology and meteorology (NCHM), Bhutan, confirmed the issue and formally alerted the West Bengal government to brace for potential flooding, reported ANI.In response, the national disaster response force (NDRF) has put its Alipurduar unit on the “highest alert level”. All personnel on leave have been recalled, and 15 additional rescuers from the RRC Siliguri unit have been deployed to bolster response teams on the ground.According to the NCHM, its flood warning group is coordinating with DGPC for real-time monitoring. District authorities in North Bengal have been advised to maintain maximum readiness, especially in low-lying and riverine zones. Coordination between Indian and Bhutanese authorities is ongoing for the latest hydrological updates.Compounding the situation is a storm system moving east from eastern Uttar Pradesh, which is currently approaching Madarihat in the Dooars. If heavy rain continues in Bhutan’s upper catchments, officials fear a rapid rise in river levels and the possibility of flash floods.Meanwhile, the impact of the monsoon has already turned deadly in the hills. In Darjeeling district’s Mirik and Sukhia Pokhri areas, continuous heavy rainfall has triggered massive landslides, killing at least nine people, while several others missing and cutting off several villages.NDRF deputy inspector general Mohsen Shahedi told ANI, “Our personnel are engaged in intensive rescue and relief operations to locate missing persons and assist the stranded villagers.” Three NDRF teams have been mobilised from Darjeeling, Siliguri, and Alipurduar, while two more are en route from Malda and Kolkata.Large-scale damage to infrastructure has been reported, with roads and homes washed away, prompting urgent rescue operations.Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the deaths and said the Centre would provide all possible assistance. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. The Centre is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to provide all possible assistance to the state,” he said.With more rain forecast, the situation remains fluid. Authorities are urging people in vulnerable areas to remain cautious and follow official advisories.
