Heavy rainfall and landslides since Sunday night agitated life in Sikkim and large parts of north Bengal. Counting Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, officials said.
A great number of vehicles got stuck on NH-10, which is considered Sikkim’s lifeline. As the road got battered by massive landslides in at least two places in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. The road remained shut for traffic till Monday afternoon.
The hills of north Bengal and Sikkim observed continual rainfall for the last couple of days. There have been multiple landslides too. Though no death was detailed. The landslides led to the shutdown of access roads to many rural areas.
The NH-10, which links Sikkim and Kalimpong to the rest of the country, was battered by landslides near Mungpoo Fatak (Kalimpong district) and Andheri Jhora (Darjeeling district). Though the rubbish was cleared at both places by Monday afternoon, there was huge traffic congestion.
R Vimala, DM of Kalimpong, said, “NH-10 was cleared for traffic on Monday afternoon.”
Subodh Chettri, executive engineer of PWD Division 9, which is the superintendent of NH-10 in West Bengal, said: “Though the debris cleared fresh mudslides are hitting the road.”
NH-55
In Darjeeling district, there were multiple landslides along NH-55, especially in places such as Tindharia.
At Siliguri, which is part of Darjeeling province, a road diversion bridge constructed over Balasan river got overwhelmed as the river soared due to ceaseless rainfall.
The main bridge over Balasan on the boundary of Siliguri town was hampered earlier. The management allowed only one-way traffic to avoid a crisis.
With the diversion bridge over Balasan no more convenient, vehicles moving for Bagdogra airport from Siliguri will have to take a deviation. This will take at least one more hour to reach the airport.
S Poonambalam, DM of Darjeeling, said: “NH-10 was shut near Coronation Bridge and NH-55 was closed at Tindharia. Both have been opened. Some roads in Kurseong and Mirik community blocks have been distressed by mudslides.”
Many rivers, including the Teesta and Torsha, are in deluge in North Bengal.
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