Road connectivity to Sikkim through NH10 — the principal highway that connects the Himalayan state of Sikkim and Bengal’s Kalimpong district with the rest of the country — was restored on Saturday, 17 days after the Teesta flash flood, providing a sigh of relief to residents and the tourism industry.

Balasubramanian T., the Kalimpong district magistrate, issued an order on Saturday allowing small and light vehicles to move on NH10 “from 6am to 6pm”.

For now, there will be single-lane traffic in certain stretches, sources said.

Until now traffic from Sikkim was being diverted through the circuitous Lava-Algarah route before hitting the Dooars to reach Siliguri.

“Heavy and goods vehicles will, however, still have to use the Kalimpong route until further orders,” said an administrative source.

The flash flood that occurred on the intervening night of October 3 and 4 had caused extensive damage to the arterial highway.

While the highway had been washed away in certain stretches, some sections were completely buried by silt.

Sources said that the damage had mostly occurred along the 20km stretch between Kalijhora and Teesta Bazar. The highway in places like Geilkhola, 29th Mile, Likhuvir and Teesta Bazar had suffered extensive damage.

The lack of connectivity to and from Siliguri had hit tourism in parts of north Bengal as well as Sikkim capital Gangtok hard, industry stakeholders said.

“With the highway reopening today, we can hope that tourists will start trickling in again. But we cannot expect a rush immediately,” said Navin Thapa, the managing director of Muscatel Group of Hotels.

“Many people who had planned the Darjeeling-Sikkim circuit either cancelled bookings or postponed their trip,” said Samriddhi Chhetri, the owner of Magnolia Homestay in Darjeeling.

Tourism industry insiders said that the timing of the flash flood was vital.

“The tragedy hit the region just at a time when people start to plan their bookings. This is why we did not get bookings like last year to start with even in Darjeeling,” said Thapa.

The group runs four properties in Gangtok and five in Darjeeling.

“Many think that with the flash flood, there is a problem in commuting across the entire hills, and hence are cancelling their bookings or deferring their trips,” said a hotelier in the region. “Hopefully, as the NH10 has reopened, a positive message will go out to potential tourists.”