GANGTOK, 21 Oct: A freak accident on JN Road [Gangtok-Tsomgo] today claimed one life. Norbu Sherpa, a resident of 7th Mile, JN Road, was hit by a falling boulder at 9th Mile which threw him down about 200 feet off the road.
According to reports, the stretch was being widened with road excavation works by the Border Roads Organisation and the rock face on the hill side is being blasted by the road agency. Blasting had reportedly been done yesterday and today labourers engaged by BRO were engaged in road clearing works. At the time of the mishap, they were away at lunch. This was when Norbu Sherpa reached the spot with his vehicle. The stretch being unfit for vehicles, he got off to get to the other side on foot. He was halfway through the stretch when a boulder came tumbling down and caught him off-guard, striking him and throwing him 200 feet down the hill side leading to his death.
The JN Road right up to Tsomgo has been open off and on since the earthquake of 18 September, being frequented by several landslides the past month leading to closure of the route for tourists. The state government had also issued an order discouraging tourists and others from traversing the route. The rains of today are believed to have loosened the already affected by blasting rocks leading to one of the boulders falling free.
According to reports, the stretch was being widened with road excavation works by the Border Roads Organisation and the rock face on the hill side is being blasted by the road agency. Blasting had reportedly been done yesterday and today labourers engaged by BRO were engaged in road clearing works. At the time of the mishap, they were away at lunch. This was when Norbu Sherpa reached the spot with his vehicle. The stretch being unfit for vehicles, he got off to get to the other side on foot. He was halfway through the stretch when a boulder came tumbling down and caught him off-guard, striking him and throwing him 200 feet down the hill side leading to his death.
The JN Road right up to Tsomgo has been open off and on since the earthquake of 18 September, being frequented by several landslides the past month leading to closure of the route for tourists. The state government had also issued an order discouraging tourists and others from traversing the route. The rains of today are believed to have loosened the already affected by blasting rocks leading to one of the boulders falling free.
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