Himadri Purkait, a 24-year-old third-year Sociology student at Jadavpur University, would pack his backpack, and travel whenever he got an opportunity. This time his destination was Darjeeling in West Bengal.
According to his family, Himadri left his home in the Kamarpol village of the state’s South 24 Parganas district for Darjeeling on September 22 and arrived at the popular tourist destination on September 26. He got a job as a receptionist at a lodge. His family said he often takes up odd jobs to fund his trips.
At least 20 people have been killed and scores are missing after heavy rain lashed the Himalayan region of West Bengal on Saturday night, triggering large-scale landslides in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong.
This was not the first time that Himadri had travelled to the hills. He had visited them several times before and would sometimes work as a guide, as he was familiar with the area.
Shukla Purkait, Himadri’s mother, has been constantly looking at her phone, and waiting for it to ring with her younger son’s name flashing on the screen.
“I last spoke to him on Saturday at around 10 pm. He told me he had just finished dinner, and that there was a lot of work pressure because many of the lodge staff were on leave due to Dussehra. I told him it was raining very heavily and asked him to go to a safer location. He said he was fine and was going to sleep,” she said.
“We used to talk every day, but since Sunday morning his phone has been switched off. He goes away like this — last time, he travelled for six months at a stretch. He leaves whenever he feels like it.”
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According to the Purkait family, no one from the lodge has contacted them. The Indian Express reached out to the local police in Darjeeling, but they have yet to respond. Rescue operations in the area are ongoing.
Himadri’s elder brother, Priobroto, told reporters, “He is a good student and loves to travel. He always says he will be financially independent and fund his own travels.”
“Himadri is a very joyful person and would always tell us where he was travelling and share his experiences with us,” a neighbour of the Purkait family said.
While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to leave for North Bengal Monday afternoon, BJP state president and MP Samik Bhattacharya reached Bagdogra in the morning to review the flood situation and provide aid.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
