Darjeeling: 6-Year-Old Girl Among Two Killed In Gok Rockfall Incident

July 17, 2025: Tragedy struck the picturesque hill town of Darjeeling on Wednesday when a massive boulder dislodged by heavy rainfall crushed two individuals to death in Lower Gok. The victims have been identified as 32-year-old Pranit Yogi and 6-year-old Samantha Subba.

According to authorities, the incident occurred while Yogi, a JCB operator from Kurseong, was working to repair a water pipeline damaged by an earlier landslide. Young Samantha, a local resident, had followed him to the site. As Yogi inspected the pipe and Samantha stood nearby, a huge rock broke loose from the rain-soaked hillside and fell directly on them. Yogi died instantly, while Samantha succumbed to her injuries en route to the hospital.

“This is a heartbreaking incident,” said Richard Lepcha, Sub Divisional Officer of Darjeeling. “The hills are very vulnerable to such landslides during intense and continuous rainfall. We urge people to avoid landslide-prone areas until the weather improves.”

Darjeeling and surrounding areas have been experiencing relentless rainfall, with the region recording 61.2 mm of rain over the last 24 hours. Kalimpong, too, has received significant rainfall, with 40.8 mm recorded in the same period.

Multiple landslides were reported across Darjeeling Municipality, particularly in Wards 5, 12, 13, 14, and 23. In Rangli Rangliot block, an uprooted tree damaged a house, although no casualties were reported there.

National Highway 10, the key arterial road linking Sikkim with the plains, was also affected. Boulders blocked sections of the road near Setijhora, Kalijhora, and Garedijhora close to Melli, halting traffic for several hours. With the help of earth movers stationed in vulnerable zones, authorities managed to clear the debris and reopen the highway around 1:30 p.m. However, long traffic jams ensued due to the disruption.

Despite swift action from disaster response teams, the incident has sparked renewed concerns about the safety of hillside communities during monsoon season. Residents and local officials are calling for stronger preventive measures and early warning systems to prevent such tragedies.

Authorities have advised locals to stay indoors, avoid steep slopes, and remain alert as more rain is expected in the coming days.