Gangtok ,September 9: After triggering floods and landslides in Sikkim & hills of North Bengal in the past few days, torrential rains finally showed signs of ebbing away with the sky clearing up Sunday.No fresh reports of landslides were reported from Darjeeling, Siliguri and Kalimpong in the northern part of the Bengal & Sikkim.
Landslips triggered by incessant rainfall have left eight people dead and displaced over 500 in Darjeeling district & Sikkim since Friday.Movement of traffic through National Highway 31 and 31A, which links Sikkim and Kalimpong with Siliguri, has been affected. The local administration, army and Border Road Organisation (BRO) officials are working round the clock to clear the debris.
However, Gangtok hasbeen cut off via Rangpo with West & South Districts within State & Country.The 30 meter long bridge of 31 A National highway at Tarkhola is extensively damaged and washed away due to heavy rainfall causing the forceful Teesta flood down and over the bridge. Tarkhola is about five Kilometre away from Rangpoo, the check post or entry point of Sikkim. Due to this damage of bridge, Sikkim remains cut off for over one month, since the construction of new bridge and restoration work takes the said period at the minimum possible time. The National Highway was opened on September 5 afternoon at Kalijhora and many vehicles including loaded trucks had crossed the area and reached the capital after a week, however, the road still had blocked at Chietrey and other places where incessant rain again caused damage in several places of N. Highway. There are numerous minor or big slides in many places. The road again closed, opened and again closed. The incessant rain caused again damage in many places of National Highway
It had been almost two weeks that 31 A National Highway was closed, the road was still not fully opened making the lives of the people of Sikkim and Kalimpong troublesome as the price of essential commodities are rising and cooking gas going to be out of stock. Chief Minister Dr. Chamling took stock of the matter and directed the departments to arrange the transportation of essential goods from alternative routs and he also urged the GREF to speed up the completion of the road. On the other hand, CITU in Kalimpong took procession in the street urging for alternative road for the lives of the people are badly affected due to closure of the National Highway, the only life line to Kalimpong and Sikkim.
It had been almost two weeks that 31 A National Highway was closed, the road was still not fully opened making the lives of the people of Sikkim and Kalimpong troublesome as the price of essential commodities are rising and cooking gas going to be out of stock. Chief Minister Dr. Chamling took stock of the matter and directed the departments to arrange the transportation of essential goods from alternative routs and he also urged the GREF to speed up the completion of the road. On the other hand, CITU in Kalimpong took procession in the street urging for alternative road for the lives of the people are badly affected due to closure of the National Highway, the only life line to Kalimpong and Sikkim.
There is acute shortage of essential commodities especially Vegetables,Petrol, LPG cylinders in Capital although the people are trying to manage with situation and The news of extensive damage to Tarkhola Bridge near Rangpo has further dampen the spirits of Sikkimese people as it would hamper the onset of Tourists season which generally begins at the start of October unless an alternative arrangement is provided by BRO in lieu of Tarkhola bridge although the news on details of extent of damage to bridge is not yet fully ascertained.
