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.
