A woman died while four others got injured in Sikkim on Friday as a boulder crushed an SUV following a landslide.
Heavy monsoon rain, which continues unabated across sub-Himalayan Bengal and Sikkim, has triggered fresh landslides and swelled rivers such as the Teesta, which snapped road connectivity in several hilly areas.
Sources said the vehicle — a shared taxi — was moving through a road between Lingee and Gangtok when the boulder hit it at Makha.
There were 13 people, including the driver, in the taxi, the most common public transport in the hills.
Teesta river in spate following heavy rainfall, in Sikkim on Friday
Locals rushed in to help the passengers but Rakhi Chhetri, 35, a resident of Middle Lingee, succumbed to her injuries on the spot.
Medical assistance was provided to the other injured passengers on the spot and four of them were shifted to STNM Hospital in Gangtok.
According to administrative sources, the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Rabgang and officials of the District Disaster Management Authority are probing the incident.
“The SDM has also handed over a compensation of ₹4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased,” said a source.
Several places across the region, including the hills, witnessed heavy to very heavy rain (70mm to 200mm) on Friday.
“Since the morning, the Teesta flooded the Darjeeling-Peshok-Kalimpong road at Teesta Bazar. As a result, direct connectivity snapped between the two hill towns,” said a source in Kalimpong district administration.
According to IMD sources, till 8.30am on Friday, it has rained 180mm in Sevoke, followed by Siliguri (150mm), Alipurduar (140mm) and Falakata (120mm).
In the hills, the rainfall ranged between 50mm and 80mm in different locations.
“There is a forecast of more rainfall during the next couple of days as the southwest monsoon is vigorously active over the region,” said a weather expert.
The NH10, considered the lifeline of Sikkim and Kalimpong, remained closed for the thirteenth day on Friday, triggering a fresh landslide at 21st Mile.
“Repair and restoration work of the damaged stretches where the road was swept away or got damaged due to landslides is in progress,” an official of the state PWD said.
In Paglajhora on NH55, the highway that connects Siliguri with Darjeeling, work to create a diversion has started. A stretch of around 45 metres of the road has sunk in the area and vehicular movement has stopped since Saturday.
Vehicles bound for the hills from Siliguri and vice versa are moving through alternative routes.