Monsoonal downpour in north Bengal and Sikkim caused two landslides on NH10, the principal highway that connects Sikkim with the rest of the country, holding up traffic for around 10 hours on Monday.
“Traffic movement between Gangtok and other parts of Sikkim and Bengal’s Kalimpong district through NH10 got disrupted for around 10 hours as a landslide occurred at Andherjhora (in Darjeeling district) located around 30km from Siliguri. Vehicles could move only after 1pm after boulders and debris were removed,” said a source in the state PWD.
Another slide was reported from Mungpoo Fatak in Kalimpong, also on NH10. A third was reported from Tindharia in Darjeeling district on NH55. Debris from these areas, too, was cleared by afternoon.
Disruption in traffic along NH10 because of landslides led to chaos at Deorali motor stand in Gangtok as tourists were either unable to find vehicles or told that they would have to take a circuitous route to reach Siliguri en route to their end destinations.
Kundan Kumar, a distressed tourist, said he had to reach Siliguri before 5pm to take a bus to Bihar.
“I have already bought my bus ticket from Siliguri. I am told I will be lucky to reach Siliguri on time to catch the bus because of the landslide,” he said frantically looking for a taxi at the motor stand on Monday morning.
Most vehicles from Sikkim took a detour via Lopchu-Peshok Road, NH-55 and Rohini Road in Darjeeling district to reach Siliguri, which meant extra 40-odd kilometres of travel and double the fare.
“We are charging regular fare from here, Rs 400. However, if drivers take a detour via Darjeeling, they will charge extra according to their own discretion,” said Passang Tamang, president, United Sikkim Taxi Jeep Drivers’ Association.
Sumitra Mondal, a tourist from Calcutta, said she and her husband had been to Sikkim on a package tour and were scheduled to return on Wednesday.
“Our package included a trip to north Sikkim, but we were unable to go there because of the landslides. That is why we decided to return home today (Monday), but now even that looks difficult now,” she said.
Balason bridge
In Siliguri, Balason river that cuts NH10 swelled and washed away the fair weather bridge on Sunday night. This bridge was built in December last year after the river had damaged one of the pillars of the main Balason bridge.
“The diversion or the fair weather bridge, built by using hume pipes, has been washed away by the river. We have informed police so that traffic can be organised accordingly,” said an official of the state PWD (NH-IX division).
He said that restoration work of the damaged pillar of the main bridge was in progress. “It is likely to end by next month and from August first week, we can allow traffic to move normally along the main bridge,” the official added.
As the fair weather bridge is damaged, Siliguri Metropolitan Police is allowing only cars, SUVs, two-wheelers, school buses and ambulances to move through the main bridge, a stretch of which is being supported by a Bailey bridge.
Traffic snarl at Andherjhora on NH10 on Monday, hours after the landslide. Passang Yolmo
All other vehicles leaving Siliguri and heading northwest (Bagdogra and beyond) are being diverted southwards through Asian Highway 2 via Naukaghat More, Eastern Bypass and along the NH27 (Fulbari-Ghoshpukur Bypass).
“As a result, traffic congestion has increased in Siliguri with heavy and medium-heavy vehicles moving from north to south through the principal thoroughfares of the city,” said a resident.
Weather experts said that it rained around 105mm in Siliguri, 90mm in Darjeeling and 78mm in Kurseong in the past 24 hours till 8.30am on Monday.
In Siliguri, an intense bout of downpour on Monday evening waterlogged many locations in and around the city. Water entered shops and marketplaces in Khalpara, Bidhan Market and Hill Cart Road, among others.
In Jalpaiguri district, the state irrigation department rang a red (secondary) alert along unprotected areas on both banks of Teesta.
A yellow (primary) alert has been issued on both banks of the Jaldhaka river, said sources.