The state PWD has sped up repair and restoration work on the damaged stretches of NH10, the principal highway that connects the Himalayan state of Sikkim and Bengal’s Kalimpong district with the rest of the country, with the aim of resuming the movement of light vehicles and two-wheelers on it from Tuesday.

On October 4, the Sikkim flash flood extensively damaged the highway.

In some places, the entire road was washed away. In others, the road got buried under silt and rubble.

“For the past week, we have been working to repair the damaged stretches to make the highway functional. There had been major damage between Kalijhora and Teesta Bazar. If water levels of the Teesta don’t rise again, we hope the road can be opened by Tuesday for small vehicles. On damaged stretches, vehicles will be allowed in a single flank,” said an official of state PWD (NH division X).

After the flash flood, vehicles bound for Sikkim and Kalimpong from Siliguri and vice-versa are taking detours.

Senior officials of PWD who had visited the highway after the disaster said the damage occurred mostly along a 20-kilometre-long stretch between Kalijhora to Teesta Bazar, in places like Geilkhola, 29th Mile, Likhuvir and Teesta Bazar.

“The stretch beyond Teesta Bazar to Rangpo in Sikkim is operational. Also, there was no major damage in the stretches between Kalijhora and 29th Mile, and Siliguri to Sevoke and a few kilometres beyond (ahead of Kalijhora),” the official added.

According to him, in some places where the road has been washed away, they have engaged excavators to cut down mountains to build the road.

“In other locations, where there are huge depositions of silt, we are clearing the silt to find the road surface and also levelling the debris so that vehicles can move. This is being done as a short-term measure. The NHIDCL(National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited) has also been associated with the responsibility of some affected areas. We, however, cannot say when the road would be ready for movement of heavy vehicles,” said an engineer of state PWD.

The halt in traffic movement along the highway has also affected people who run eateries along the route.

“Tourists, as well as locals, stop in restaurants and other local eateries in different places along NH10 during their travel. Since October 4, as there has been no traffic between Teesta Bazar and Sevoke, the eateries have closed down. The disaster has financially hit the owners and the employees who serve in these eateries,” said Subhash Lama, a Teesta Bazar resident.