Heavy rainfall and landslides have battered the hills, Terai, and Dooars regions of North Bengal. The tea industry has suffered huge losses. Initial estimates indicate the sector may lose over Rs 100 crore due to the ongoing disaster.
Ram Avtar Sharma, Secretary of the Dooars branch of the Tea Association of India, said this is one of the biggest losses ever for the industry. He urged the government to provide immediate help to affected tea gardens.
The rains damaged plantations in multiple ways. Continuous rainfall destroyed young tea leaves before they could be plucked. Flooding in warehouses also ruined large stocks of processed tea leaves. These losses have added to the sector’s financial strain.
Reports show that around 30 of the 276 tea gardens in the region were severely affected. The Terai region alone recorded 15 majorly damaged gardens. Industry experts expect this disruption to push tea prices higher in the coming months. Authorities are conducting further assessments to determine the full extent of the damage.
