The flash flood in the mighty Teesta snapped direct connectivity to the Himalayan state of Sikkim since Wednesday, with washed-away stretches of NH10 — the state’s lifeline — impacting local markets in the Himalayan state and Siliguri wholesale hubs.

Most essential items, ranging from food to fuel, are sent to Sikkim from Siliguri. As vehicles are now taking detours and road link is yet to be restored in parts of Sikkim’s Mangan, the government has taken steps to prevent shortage and illegal hoarding of essential items.

The Sikkim government has issued directives to prevent illegal hoarding and overpricing. Teams have been formed to visit markets and check if items are being sold at normal rates.

The state food and civil supplies department in a notice on Wednesday said petrol pumps across Sikkim should not sell more than 20 litres of diesel and 15 litres of petrol to a single individual.

“Fuel pumps have been advised to stock around 1,500 litres of both petrol and diesel for emergencies,” said a source.

All LPG dealers have been asked to ensure no gas cylinder hoarding or panic buying takes place.

On Thursday, teams comprising representatives of civic and rural bodies
visited various markets in Sikkim.

“They spoke with customers and shopkeepers to confirm there was no overpricing. Senior government officials also held talks with various trade bodies to ensure that there was no shortage of essential supplies. Plans have been drawn up to bring such items into the state through alternative routes as the NH10 is closed now,” said a source.

In Bengal’s Siliguri, business at the regulated market, the largest wholesale hub of fruits, vegetables and fish in north Bengal, suffered on Thursday as it could not send items to Sikkim and Kalimpong for the second consecutive day.

Every day, around 150 tonnes of fruits and vegetables are sent to Sikkim from the market, said sources.

“We could not send any items to Sikkim and Kalimpong.... Our members are exploring alternative roads. They are facing losses since yesterday (Wednesday). We don’t know when things will be normal,” said Shiv Kumar, secretary of the Siliguri Fruits and Vegetable Commission Agents’ Association.

Tamal Das, secretary of the regulated market, said usually around 25 trucks of fruits and vegetables worth around Rs 30 to 40 lakh move to Sikkim daily. “Not a single vehicle has headed for Sikkim since Wednesday morning,” he said.

Campuses shut

The Sikkim government on Thursday announced that all educational institutions — schools, colleges and universities, both government and private — will be closed till October 15 because of the natural disaster.