Wed Oct 08 21:07:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewritten article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

Heavy floods and landslides in the North Bengal hills (Darjeeling, Mirik, etc.) on October 4-5, 2025, have severely impacted tourism. While authorities rescued stranded tourists, widespread cancellations have followed due to safety concerns and misinformation. The tourism industry is estimated to have lost 50 crores in three days. Rural tourism and homestays are particularly affected, and experts are calling for a more sustainable and ecologically conscious approach to tourism development in the vulnerable Himalayan region. Local businesses are suffering significant losses, and restoration efforts are underway to reopen roads and mitigate the damage.

**News Article:**

**North Bengal Tourism Reels After Floods, Faces ₹50 Crore Loss**

*Darjeeling/Mirik, October 9, 2025* – The tourism industry in the hills of North Bengal is facing a significant crisis in the wake of devastating floods and landslides that struck the region on October 4-5. Despite successful rescue operations that evacuated 860 tourists, cancellations are soaring, leading to an estimated loss of ₹50 crore in just three days.

The Himalayan Hospitality Tourism Development Network (HHTDN) reports that while tourists are slowly returning, overall tour cancellations across the valley, including popular destinations like Darjeeling and Mirik, have reached 15%. Samrat Sanyal, secretary of HHTDN, urged tourists to rely on official helplines for accurate information, combating the spread of misinformation that is exacerbating cancellations.

“A lot of misinformation is spreading that all places in the hills have been blocked or closed down. Tourists must call official helpline numbers for the correct information, otherwise, we face unnecessary cancellations in places where there has been no impact,” Sanyal said.

However, he confirmed that areas like Mirik, Bijanbari, Tabakoshi, and Sukhiapokhri have been severely affected by the natural disaster. The impact is particularly acute for rural tourism and smaller homestays. A local eatery owner near Mirik Lake lamented the lack of customers, stating, “Hardly one customer a day is turning up; we are counting losses in peak tourist season.”

The floods, triggered by 261mm of rainfall and causing over 110 major landslides, have claimed at least 28 lives, including 11 in Mirik. Some roads remain blocked, forcing tourists to take lengthy detours.

Experts are calling for a fundamental shift towards sustainable tourism practices that prioritize ecologically sound development. They emphasize the need to regulate construction, especially of homestays in vulnerable locations, to ensure compliance with government protocols.

“Himalayas are vulnerable, not only in Darjeeling, across India people should not travel in the night when the risk factor increases,” Mr. Sanyal added.

Local authorities are working to restore infrastructure and mitigate the impact on businesses, but the region faces a long road to recovery as it mourns the loss of life and livelihoods.

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