Recurring bouts of downpour since Tuesday evening caused by the southwest monsoon active in sub-Himalayan Bengal and adjoining areas led to landslides at a number of locations in Sikkim and flooded some areas in Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts of north Bengal

In Sikkim, rains triggered landslides at 20th Mile — between the stretches of Singtam and Rangpo — on NH10 that connects the state with the rest of the country, bringing traffic to a halt since Wednesday morning.

“The debris was cleared in due course but vehicles were immediately diverted through alternative routes. We are on alert as there are forecasts that rainfall would continue over the next few days,” said a source in the Sikkim government.

Landslides were reported on some other roads in Sikkim, which include the Singtam-Temi Tarku and Rangpo-Rorathang stretches.

On Tuesday, at 17th Mile near Sikkim capital Gangtok, rain caused a landslide which damaged a camp set up for road construction.

Eight persons got stuck in the debris.

Troops of the 36 medium regiment of Indian army posted under Black Cat division of the Trishakti Corps rescued the eight persons. All of them were treated at the nearest military hospital.

In north Bengal, incessant rains flooded around 50 houses in Madhyapara, a village under Dhupguri block of Jalpaiguri district, and damaged crops ready for harvest.

Indian army personnel rescue the stranded persons at 17th Mile near Gangtok on Tuesday

In Nagrakata block of Jalpaiguri, local stream Sudhani washed away a road diversion that connects Manmohandhura and some other localities.

In Alipurduar, the Kaljani and the Torsha have started flooding low-lying areas.

In Cooch Behar, the Dharala, Torsha and the Raidak rivers have started gobbling up patches of land in certain areas.

The administration has received reports of erosion from some villages of Tufanganj, Dinhata and Cooch Behar subdivisions. Bengal irrigation department issued a primary (yellow) alert in certain stretches along both the banks of the Teesta and Jaldhaka rivers.

Weather experts, who had said that monsoon reached north Bengal on June 12, predicted the downpour would last for the next few days.

“There is a forecast of heavy rainfall across the region. In Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts it might rain between 70mm and 200 mm. Monsoon will advance further in next two-three days. The east-west trough is still prevailing between northwest Uttar Pradesh and Assam, covering Bihar, sub-Himalayan Bengal and Sikkim,” said a source in the Indian Meteorological Department.