Sikkim, Kalimpong delinked

SILIGURI, Sept. 9: Friday's landslides on National Highway 31A have left Sikkim and Kalimpong literally cut off from the rest of the country. About 11 km stretch of the highway, between Rangpo and Tarkhola, is in a very poor condition following landslides at over 18 locations. Mr Puran Subba, the inspector-in-charge of Kalimpong police station, said around 200 feet of the national highway has entirely slid away at Tumlang, 7 km off Rangpo towards Siliguri. The same condition prevails between 29 Mile and Rambhi and at Tarkhola. Although the General Reserve Engineering Force personnel of the Border Road Organisation have initiated the restoration work, official sources said the highway could only become operational by Thursday. However, if rains do not stop, the restoration would delay. At Tumlnag, Tarkhloa and near 29 Mile, where the NH-31A has literally vanished, the GREF personnel are trying to make fresh "jeepable" way by cutting the hill slopes. With the NH-31A closed for the time-being, traffic originating from Sikkim are plying along the Monsong-Kalimpong-Darjeeling-Siliguri route. Kalimpong too is connected to Siliguri via Darjeeling. Meanwhile, NH-55 connecting Siliguri to Darjeeling has become operational once again. The toy train service, however, is yet to be restored.