Torrential rains causing deadly landslides and floods in India’s Darjeeling region have also ravaged extensive areas of prime tea estates, officials reported Tuesday.
The deluge devastated around five percent of Darjeeling’s famous tea gardens, delivering a significant setback to a district renowned for its tea leaves.
“The flood has inflicted considerable damage on the tea gardens,” Rajkumar Mondal, chairman of the Indian Tea Association’s Dooars Chapter, told AFP. Over 950 hectares of tea plantations in Darjeeling’s hills, celebrated for their high-quality brews with a protected Geographical Indication, “experienced severe losses due to flooding,” he stated.
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According to the Tea Board of India, Darjeeling annually produces approximately 10,000 tonnes of tea across 17,500 hectares.
This destruction further highlights how the increasing intensity and unpredictability of rainfall in recent years underscore the escalating impact of climate change on Himalayan tea-growing areas.
Mondal reported that Darjeeling received over 261 mm (10 inches) of rain on Saturday.
“It’s unprecedented — I’ve never witnessed such a disaster in my life,” he remarked, noting the rains came just before a “new flush,” the harvest of the finest young leaf tips. “As the flood waters receded, we noticed silt soil on the tea plants… it’s costly to remove.”
Trail of Destruction
Monsoon rains, which began on October 3, have subsided but left a path of destruction, washing away roads and causing landslides across West Bengal state.
Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) scientist Sourish Bandopadhyay explained that the sudden rains were due to “an unexpected change in the trajectory of a low-pressure system,” leading to intense rainfall.
“It’s indicative of climate change in the region,” he noted.
Praween Prakash, superintendent of police for Darjeeling, reported at least 36 fatalities, up from the previous count of 28.
Landslides demolished over 500 houses, displacing hundreds into temporary shelters, while tourists trapped by floodwaters were rescued by earthmovers, officials confirmed.
India’s tea industry is increasingly affected by climate change, with rising temperatures and erratic weather impacting both yield and quality, according to the Tea Board.
Heavy rains lead to waterlogging and soil erosion, while extended dry periods push tea estates to depend on irrigation to sustain crops, the board noted.
Growers are also observing new pests and diseases, forcing estates to use more fertilizers and pesticides to protect plants and maintain soil health.
India’s tea industry directly employs over one million workers, with an additional million in supporting roles.
The nation ranks as the world’s second-largest producer and third-largest black tea exporter.
In 2024, it exported nearly 255,000 metric tonnes, earning about 71 billion rupees ($850 million), official data shows.
