GANGTOK/DARJEELING: Life in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills was on Thursday affected as incessant rains caused landslides at some places and washed away roads, snapping direct road link between Siliguri and Mirik and damaging stretches along NH-10 causing hardship to travellers in the tourist season.
West Bengal government has undertaken restoration work on a work footing and deployed relief and rescue teams in Darjeeling and Mirik. “We have already sent relief teams to the area. The relief work has started. We have also sent teams and specialised machines for the restoration of NH-10. Senior officials are on the spot,” state Tourism Minister Gautam Deb, who rushed to the spot following immediate instruction from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said.
Rains have damaged vast stretches of NH-10, the lifeline of Sikkim, on the Kalijhora route near Siliguri halting traffic for hours, a report from Gangtok said.
The state has also taken steps to bring back the stranded tourists. “We are also making special arrangements to bring back the tourists who want to come back,” Deb told PTI.
Darjeeling District Magistrate Anurag Srivastava stated that a road leading to a temporary bridge over the Rakti near Garidhura was washed away on Wednesday as the stream had overflown because of the constant amount of rain since Tuesday.
The damaged road snapped the direct link between Siliguri and Mirik.
Vehicles coming downhill from Kurseong to Siliguri and those travelling between Mirik and Siliguri have to take a detour of over 25 km through Panighata Road via Bagdogra to reach their destination.
“Officials of the state PWD have visited the site and initiated necessary work to restore the approach road,” the Darejeeling DM said. The damaged stretch near Garidhura is around 15 km from here.
Last monsoon, a bridge on the Rakti stream had been damaged and after that, the temporary bridge was built.
According to a Gangtok report, the Kalijhora route has been blocked due to the continuous amount of rainfall that has washed away and damaged major sections of the NH 10, the lifeline of Sikkim.
The damaged stretch was 3 km ahead of Coronation Bridge near Kalijhora that has been totally washed out.
Vehicles towards Sikkim are being diverted through other alternate routes via Darjeeling and Teesta and Kalimpong-Monsong-Rangpo or Kalimpong-Melli-Rangpo route.
As per an official report from Rangpo, light vehicles, especially cars from Siliguri are being allowed to pass slowly since this morning.
In the bus and taxi stands of Rangpo, Singtam and Gangtok in Sikkim, long queues of anxious passengers were seen waiting for taxis from Siliguri. Cabs were not easily available, making it difficult for the travellers. (PTI)
