Landslides disrupt NH10, vehicles taking alternative routes

DARJEELING, : Just a day after the Kalimpong district administration reopened the NH 10 for small vehicles from July 31, the highway – crucial for Sikkim and Kalimpong - closed down from August 1 for hours following landslides in different places along the route.

The NH 10, the main link of Sikkim and Kalimpong to Siliguri, had finally opened after more than a month for small vehicles with certain restrictions on Wednesday. Even after the fresh landslides from last night and early morning of Friday has been cleared, the route is being seen as risky with rocks and boulders falling in some places. In some stretches, parts of the road are collapsing with cracks also seen developing in some areas.

Due to heavy rainfall last night, landslides along NH 10 were seen in 28th Mile and 29th Mile but were cleared and open to single lane traffic in those spots. Fresh landslides broke out early Friday morning when about 3 feet of road stretch collapsed at Rabi johra with small vehicles however able to pass from there.

Another landslide was again seen at 29th Mile where a mudslide along with a huge tree blocked the road. It was also cleared by afternoon with traffic resuming for small vehicles with single lane traffic being maintained in the landslide hit areas. With sporadic rainfall seen throughout the day there are further chances of landslide with many using alternate routes to Siliguri.

On the other hand, goods vehicles, buses and other heavy vehicles are continuing to move via Reshi - Pedong-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan and to Siliguri. Light vehicles are also using alternative routes from Rangpo towards Siliguri via Munsong-17th Mile- Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan to Siliguri, with movement of small vehicles from Kalimpong to Siliguri also seen via Relli-Samthar-Panbu to Siliguri and vice versa.