In October 2025, heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide on Rohini Road, a vital artery connecting the plains of Siliguri to the Darjeeling hills. The breach effectively severed the region’s primary transit corridor, forcing thousands of commuters and essential supplies onto treacherous detours.

This photo story documents the grueling recovery effort. From the heavy machinery clearing tons of debris to the manual labor required to stabilize the sheared cliffsides, these frames capture the physical toll of maintaining infrastructure in an unstable landscape. Three months of intensive restoration culminated in the road’s reopening on January 1, 2026, restoring the pulse of the "Queen of the Hills."

Rohini Road, Darjeeling.

An excavator clears debris following a landslide on Rohini Road, the primary road connecting Siliguri and Darjeeling via Kurseong, West Bengal, India, October 14, 2025.

Road clearing and slope stabilization work continues on the landslide-damaged stretch of the Siliguri-Darjeeling highway via Kurseong, West Bengal, India, October 14, 2025.

A worker stumbles while navigating a steep landslide site during restoration efforts on Rohini Road near Kurseong, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India, October 14, 2025.

A red plastic chair and safety helmets lie scattered among landslide debris on the highway connecting Siliguri and Darjeeling via Kurseong, West Bengal, India, October 14, 2025.

Workers apply concrete to reinforce the damaged edge of a highway following a massive landslide on the route connecting Siliguri and Darjeeling via Kurseong, West Bengal, India, October 14, 2025.

A road worker washes his hands after working on the landslide affected Rohini road, near Kurseong, Darjeeling, on October 14, 2025.

Workers are silhouetted against the sunset at a landslide site as restoration efforts continue on Rohini Road near Kurseong, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India, October 14, 2025.