Residents of Chamakdangi, a small hamlet on the outskirts of Siliguri, have begun evacuating as the Teesta river swells dangerously close, threatening to engulf their village.

The situation escalated over the past 48 hours because of heavy rain in the river’s upper catchments, resulting in flooding and the loss of a protective spur designed only last year to prevent erosion.

“The spur that once safe guarded our village has been washed away, and the water is now flooding our area. We have no choice but to relocate,” said Champey Mukhia, a local.

Chamakdangi, situated under the Dabgram-I panchayat in Jalpaiguri district, is approximately 25km from Siliguri, near the Baikunthapur forests. Around 70 families were evacuated on Thursday, with villagers seen loading furniture, belongings, and livestock into vehicles for transport to safer locations identified by the Jalpaiguri district administration.

The evacuation process was closely monitored by representatives from the zilla parishad, local panchayat officials, Rajganj block staff and personnel from Bhaktinagar police station. Many residents were observed dismantling parts of their homes, and salvaging wooden doors and windows from the debris.

The administration is working to identify a permanent relocation site for the affected families. For now, they have been temporarily accommodated in a community hall in Bikashnagar anda school building inSalugara, located on Siliguri’s outskirts.

“We are exploring options for where they can be permanently shifted. The location should be suitable for the villagers so that they can earn a livelihood through dairy, cattle rearing and poultry as they have been doing for years now,” said a source in the administration.

Manisha Roy, a zilla parishad member overseeing the evacuation, warned that a kilometre-long concrete road built along the riverbank is at risk of collapse.

“Exactly a year ago, around 30 families from Laltong busty, another nearby village, were evacuated because of the Teesta. Now, it seems Chamakdangi may face the same fate. Given the rate at which the river is eroding the land, we fear for how much longer this area will remain,” she said.