Slide near Tatopani holds up Legship-Jorethang axis

LEGSHIP, 24 Sep: The main highway connecting Jorethang and Legship in West Sikkim (enroute to Gyalshing) was blocked for over five hours this morning when an active mud slip turned into a major landslide bringing down debris and slush covering a 50 meter stretch just above Tatopani around 18 kilometers from Jorethang.
The slide was cleared in fits and starts for a few vehicles at a time since the slide remained active through the day and frequently sent down fresh slush and debris.
Roads & Bridges Department engineers at the spot when contacted later in the evening, informed that heavy vehicles had still not made it across from this spot and added that the weather had also turned for the worse in the evening.
The slide has been active for over a week now and has grown into a major headache for the Roads and Bridges department personnel who are being assisted by Costal Pvt Ltd, the company that is carrying out the tunneling works along with Jal Power Corporation along the entire stretch between Rothak and Legship.
The slide is informed to have turned worse late last night when heavy rains hit the area causing the slope above to collapse. The source of the landslide, as per workers at the site, is around 500 meters above the road.
Commuters unwilling to wait for the road to clear opted for alternate routes from either side. Vehicles coming from Jorethang went back and took the Karfectar, Namchi, Damthang, Ravangla, Kewzing road to drop down to Legship from the other side and then proceed to Gyalshing. This route too has around three trouble spots which are being regularly cleared by the Roads & Bridges Department.
The road from Ravangla to Legship has also developed two small slides which are challenging enough not to allow any heavy vehicles through and are open only for light vehicles at present.