Sikkim Blocked Again

The ongoing monsoons have once again started to take its toll along NH-31A, with various places along the West Bengal-Sikkim highway being blocked because of landslides, police said.

After closing down the highway for over 12 hours at Rambi in the West Bengal side on June 17, the rains have once again disrupted traffic along the highway since Tuesday.

“The highway is blocked at a place around 200 meters from Teesta Bridge towards Siliguri. The spot which is near the Shiv Mandir at the infamous Likhey Bhir is informed to have lost a section of the road due to heavy rains,” Janmukti Chalak Mahasangh’s (JCM) president Milan Pradhan said.

The section of the road broke down at around mid-night on Tuesday after which traffic came to a standstill with vehicles on either side returning back to their destinations or taking alternative routes via Darjeeling, Kurseong or Mirik, police said.

Drivers are also taking the route via Kalimpong-Lava-Gurubathan and Damdim and entering Siliguri through the Coronation Bridge from West Bengal.