Pandemic protocol coupled with a landslide could have barred scores of candidates from north Bengal from appearing in the entrance tests of National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy in Gangtok on Sunday, but for the proactive efforts of the East Sikkim administration.

As many as 217 candidates from north Bengal had reached Rangpo, an entry point to Sikkim en route to Gangtok, to write their papers at three different centres. However, because of the landslide at Singtam, 12km from Rangpo and 28km short of Gangtok, on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, candidates had to be transshipped with help from the administration.

The Telegraph received a frantic call from a guardian of an examinee at 7am Sunday. “My brother is stuck in Rangpo, the bus is yet to come and we are told there has been a landslide somewhere between Rangpo and Gangtok because of which traffic is held up. The exams will begin at 10am,” he said.

The 40km drive from Rangpo to Gangtok normally takes an hour.

Alive to the plight of candidates, East Sikkim administration was busy clearing the debris of foliage, mud and stones on the highway.

“There is a massive pile of debris, including bamboo plants. We are hoping to clear it by 9am to ensure examinees reach centres on time,” said Rangpo subdivisional magistrate Himmat Rai a little after 7am while personally supervising the work.

Raj Yadav, the district collector of East Sikkim, told The Telegraph that eventually the candidates had to be transshipped because of the time taken to clear the slide. “In all, 217 candidates reached the check post (at Rangpo) and we arranged for buses. All the candidates reached their exam centres. Where candidates were late by a few minutes, extra time will be allotted to them as this was a natural calamity,” Yadav said.

In all, 1,025 candidates from Sikkim and north Bengal had registered to sit for the exams, but students from outside Sikkim were not allowed to cross Rangpo in advance because of the strict Covid protocol. They were asked to reach the Rangpo check post by Sunday 6am and Sikkim National Transport buses were supposed to have ferried them to exam centres in Gangtok.

“We are indebted to the Sikkim government for the wonderful arrangement for candidates from outside. Despite the landslide, my son could reach his centre in time,” said Subha Tamang, father of candidate Gyalbo Tshering, from Badamtam tea estate in Darjeeling. Kanak Nandi, elder brother of candidate Bhaskar Das from Bhatibari in Alipurduar, echoed Tamang. “We are really grateful, especially to Himmat sir,” he said.