Goa, Oct. 6 -- Residents of Darjeeling were jolted awake in the dead of night when a key bridge in the area collapsed at approximately 2:30 AM, carrying two houses with it into the river below.

Locals described the terrifying scene, saying the river's water level rose so rapidly that they barely had time to react. "All of us had been watching the intensity of rain increase and decided we would leave if anything happened," one resident said, standing near the remnants of the collapsed bridge.

The resident added, "It was around 2:30 AM when we heard a loud noise. We quickly gathered our important documents and a few clothes and ran to safety."

Authorities are assessing the damage and the situation remains precarious due to ongoing heavy ...