Continuous Rainfall Causes Havoc in Darjeeling and Sikkim
Since Thursday, continuous rainfall has affected both the hills and plains. The Meteorological Department has forecasted that this downpour will persist until Saturday. Earlier, the Sikkim Meteorological Department warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Alipurduar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri. The administration has issued a flood alert for Teesta residents and increased surveillance in vulnerable areas. Warnings are also in place for hilly roads, especially on National Highway 10.
Landslides and Road Closures
Four days of relentless rain have put the mountains and plains at risk. Landslides have occurred in multiple locations, including Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Alerts are active at Selfidara, 28th Mile, and Shwetijhora along National Highway 10. The highway remains closed most of the time. In Darjeeling, landslides have disrupted areas like Singhmari. Rising water levels in the Teesta River have worsened the situation, making National Highway 10 even more dangerous. Authorities have issued warnings for Tistabazar, Sevoke, Basusuba, and Ghazaldoba.
Fresh Landslides Reported
On Friday morning, new landslides struck Darjeeling’s Mirik-Ghum-Sukhia Pokhri Road, damaging several houses. Lower Sitong’s Diary village also experienced a landslide. Roads in Dudhia and Panighata have collapsed. However, the administration is actively clearing debris, and traffic has resumed on some sections.
Road Closures in Kalimpong
In Kalimpong district, the administration has closed the Singtham-Rongpo road at Mile 20 due to falling boulders. A similar situation is present at Birik Dhara, where large rocks have blocked the road. The district authorities have closed this road to prevent accidents.
National Highway 10 Faces Repeated Disruptions
A section of National Highway 10 near Melli Bazaar in Kalimpong collapsed on Thursday due to heavy rain. This incident caused significant traffic congestion between Siliguri and Gangtok. Since last July, National Highway 10 has closed nine times due to landslides and Teesta floods. The road reopened last Tuesday after nine days of repairs, but it has collapsed again. This disruption has impacted the crucial Bengal-Sikkim lifeline, causing major inconvenience for commuters.
