TeaHe expressed concern that the combined forces of climate change and human action could spell disaster for the fragile ecosystem of North Bengal, a point that had been raised in recent years but ignored. This proved costly, as a massive disaster struck this region of mountains, lush foothills (the Dooars) and alluvial plains with fast-flowing streams on 5–6 October. More than 300 mm of rainfall in 12 hours caused hundreds of landslides in Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. Rivers burst their banks, roads were blocked, villages were cut off or destroyed. Adding to the human suffering list, more than 40 people have died, while 10,000 people are taking shelter in relief camps. “Out of the 32 cattle I have, 22 have either died or been lost. In our tea garden, at least 70 families are affected,” says Sikander Majhi, 41, a resident of Tandu tea garden in Nagarakata block of Jalpaiguri district. North Bengal was also forewarned: On October 4, 2023, a glacial lake outburst in Sikkim sank the Teesta III dam and caused havoc downstream.

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