Several people are feared dead after heavy rains triggered multiple landslides in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal on Sunday.
Local administration, police, and disaster response teams have rushed to the spots and launched the rescue and relief operations.
According to reports, the landslides occurred in Mirik and Sukhia Pokhari, damaging several houses and cutting off road connectivity on key routes in the tourist district.
"Several casualties are feared due to a major landslide in the Darjeeling district triggered by heavy rainfall since last night. We don't have the exact figures right now as the rescue and relief work has just started," an officer told PTI news agency.
Unconfirmed reports claimed at least 11 people have been killed, though the extent of damage is yet to be ascertained. The continuous rainfall has made it difficult for earthmovers and emergency vehicles to reach the affected site.
Vehicular traffic on key routes, including the road connecting West Bengal and Sikkim and the one linking Darjeeling and Siliguri, was disrupted following the landslides.
Following the disaster, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has shut tourist spots in the region, including the Tiger Hill and Rock Garden.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal till Monday morning due to a well-marked low-pressure area.
The IMD has issued a red warning for the sub-Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar.
The well-marked low-pressure over west Jharkhand and adjoining areas of south Bihar, southeast Uttar Pradesh and north Chhattisgarh is likely to move north-northeastwards towards Bihar, and weaken gradually into a low-pressure area by Saturday evening, it said.