Slide barricades Singtam-Mangan traffic

DIKCHU, 16 Aug: Heavy overnight rain pushed down a massive slide down a kholcha here at Sirwani, about 2 km out of Singtam towards Dikchu, pouring down copious amounts of debris and boulders, barricading the highway against any vehicular traffic. It was only much later in the day that Sikkim Police personnel roped in a safe enough route for commuters to walk across the stretch and take transhipment options.
The slide also damaged a truck [WB-73B-7096] which was parked at the spot for the night. This truck, carrying a load of cement for North district from Siliguri was parked here last night when it found the road ahead blocked. Later in the night, the kholcha broke its banks and the debris swept over the stationary truck. The driver and the handy-boy escaped the slide and are unhurt.At this spot, around a 100 feet stretch of the road has been damaged. The section could not be restored today and even transhipment, as mentioned, could be undertaken only later in the day.
This slide has also disrupted traffic from Singtam to some parts of south and west districts and vehicles are plying via Melli instead. The slide is expected to be cleared by Wednesday evening.