Killer Slope Failures

text & pictures by TSERING TASHI

Because of geological fragility, high relief, frequent earthquakes, Indian summer monsoon and drainage basin characteristics, Sikkim and Darjeeling in particular, and rest of the Indian Himalayas in general, will be eternally plagued by natural hazards such as earthquakes, mass wasting processes (destructive or benign), differential settlements and/or subsidence, floods etc.

Essentials in place, rehabilitation work underway in landslide ravaged North

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 08 Oct: Relief Commissioner cum Secretary Land Revenue and Disaster Management department, SBS Bhaduria, informs that the rescue and immediate relief measures in the wake of the 21 September landslides and flashfloods in north Sikkim completed, rehabilitation works are underway in earnest in the district now.
Speaking to NOW! today, the Relief Commissioner informed that hundreds of tons of essential commodities and food items have been dispatched and stored in different areas across North Sikkim including Mangan, Chungthang, Lachung and Lachen. These commodities were dispatched for the affected areas as soon as the disaster struck, it is informed.
The Relief Commissioner added that with the weather holding up over the past few days, more required relief materials could be sent to the affected areas if a need arose in the coming days.
At present, with the Mangan to Chungthang and Chungthang to Lachung road still blocked, the BRO has also set up the provision of a ropeway across Lanthey Khola, (where around 500 meters of road was destroyed and a new road is being constructed) which is facilitating transshipment of man and material.
It may be informed that the Chungthang to Lachen road is open at the moment.
“The roads have always been a problem up North, however, the BRO has assured that the Mangan- Chungthang road will be opened for vehicular traffic between 15 to 20 October and the Chungthang-Lachung road by 15 October. We are being very careful that there is no problem for the local people in the affected areas and the District Collector and the SDM’s office are doing a good job and coordinating well with all relief operations,” he stated.
While informing that the state government would initiate any required relief and rehabilitation works as soon as the DC and the SDM’s office sends a requisition, he also said that for any assistance or help required people can approach the office of the District Collector.
“It is easier for us to coordinate through the administration if any person needs help. We can coordinate better with the administration up north and can send in all relief materials easily. We are ready to help and if there is any need people can intimate us and we will arrange for the delivery,” assured the Relief Commissioner.
There are no complaints or new requisition seeking any help at the moment which is why the rescue part of the operation has been put on standby, he said. However, he added that if the need arises all infrastructure put on hold at the moment like choppers and supply of essential commodities could be resumed within minutes, provided the weather stands.
At the same time, the Commissioner also informed that the only rescue work still being carried out is by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) under the state police department.
At present, the SDRF team is carrying out a combing and rescue operation along the banks of the Teesta searching for the 7 dead bodies still missing. The operation is being coordinated by the DGP’s office. The bodies of only 14 of the 21 people killed in the 21 Sept fury of landslides have been recovered so far.

North district administration thanks all who assisted during landslides emergency

MANGAN, 05 Oct: The North District administration has expressed its sincere gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who helped in the relief and rescue operations during the flash floods and landslides which occurred throughout the district during the month of September 2012.
A press release issued by DC North, TW Khangsarpa states that the immediate action by these organizations and individuals ensured that the public at large did not face major difficulties in spite of difficult conditions.
The District Administration is especially grateful to the GREF for early restoration of roads in spite of their personal loss on account of the death of 12 of its personnel in the landslides in Chungthang during the night of the 21 September.
During the period of the calamity when all roads in the district were blocked, Teesta Urja Ltd. provided critical support by arranging transportation of ration and evacuation of stranded persons. Special thanks must go to Senior Engineer (Environment), Palden Bhutia in Teesta Urja Pvt Ltd. for efficient management of affairs at the Mangan (Ringhim) helipad.
The DC has also thanked the Indian Army for airlifting food from Chungthang to Lachung. Bhavishya Bharat Foundation provided medical assistance to the people during this crisis. The Energy and Power Deptt. and Public Health Engineering Deptt. acted immediately by providing temporary power and drinking water in Chungthang, the release mentions.
The administration has further thanked all panchayat members and local volunteers for their assistance to the administration in time of crisis.

The Madness of Crossing Troublesome Lanthey Khola

While the smaller slides have been cleared along the Mangan-Chungthang highway, the monster disruptions at Lanthey [pix alongside] and Chiyandara remain unspanned. When the weather is clear, some risk the walk across to avail transhipment options which are now available. This remains a risky undertaking as the photograph amply illustrates, but there are hardy porters at hand who even risk making the journey weighed down with headloads for a small premium. As Ongdi Sherpa, one of the porters negotiating the Chiyandara and Lanthey slides with headloads of ration and vegetable provisions, says: “We are charging Rs. 200 for one sack of load and charging Rs. 150 per carton of beer for the carriage from Chyandara to Lanthey which is half kilometre but it is very risky for us to tranship the goods in such a dicey slide where anything could happen at any moment”. Meanwhile, BAC Mangan has arranged for light refreshments for commuters and other workers here at Chyandara, a provision being managed under the supervision of Dorjee Tshering Lepcha and Choden Lepcha.
[from WANGCHUK BHUTIA]

Report on Cases of Slope Failure/ Landslide and Flash Flood in parts of North Sikkim [As updated on 27/09/2012 at 2:00 pm]

1. R.K Singh, Union Home Secretary had a telephonic conversation with the  Chief Secretary today and inquired about the current situation in disaster affected areas and assured all support from Government of India.
2. The weather is under improved condition.
3. The road connectivity from Chungthang to Lachen will open tomorrow [Friday].
4. BRO is putting all man and machine to open Chungthang-Lachung road and is expected to be opened at the earliest.
5. Water supply is restored.
6. Food material is being transported in the interior areas of North Sikkim. 80 bags of rice transported yesterday to Lachung. Today Dal, Atta, M.oil, Poly Pipes, Raincoat , Torch Light, candles are being dispatched.
Chief Secretary is convening a special emergency meeting on 28/09/2012 with all the Heads of the line Departments, DGP, GOC, Indian Air Force, BRO and BSNL etc. to discuss about the latest situation. The meeting will discuss about the assessment of damages in North Sikkim and other districts as well, Progress of immediate restoration of Power & Water Supply, Communication and Roads as well. All the interlinked departments and organization has to assess the damage for preparation of memorandum to be submitted to Government of India.
Sd/-
(S.B.S Bhadauria)
Secretary cum State Relief Commissioner

Pawan Hans to the rescue, like always

An employee of the General Mechanical Workers Company injured in the Friday landslide at the Teesta Stage III damsite at Chungthang being rushed to the waiting Pawan Hans helicopter at the Chungthang ground on Saturday. Two injured persons were air-lifted to Gangtok on Saturday. Unfortunately, one of them succumbed to his injuries later.

SUBSIDISED FLIGHTS FROM GANGTOK TO CHUNGTHANG, LACHEN AND LACHUNG AND BACK TO BEGIN THURSDAY

SAGAR CHHETRI

GANGTOK, 26 Sept: The Pawan Hans heliservice operated by the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation has proved an indispensible asset for Sikkim in times of emergencies. Its limited carrying capacity notwithstanding, when the roads snap and areas get cut off, the Pawan Hans Bell 407 helicopter invariably becomes the carrier to ferry rescue, relief and consolation. In the latest instance as well, the helicopter has been pressed into extensive service over the North Sikkim skies. Captains TS Kang and Pawan Siwach clocked in a staggering 4:50 hours of airtime on 25 September flying a total of 16 sorties between Gangtok, Mangan, Chungthang and Lachen.
The heliservice has been on relief and rescue detail in North Sikkim since 22 September, taking off from the Burtuk helicopter at 9 a.m. on Saturday and flying eight sorties up to Chungthang that day. The flurry of landslides which crashed at several places across North district began on Friday evening, it may be recalled. Between officials and injured persons ferried to and out of Chungthang that day, the helicopter also accommodated some 193 kilos of relief materials.
The chopper and the heliservice personnel have been keeping busy since then, even managing the scheduled flights to Bagdogra and back between its relief and rescue flights in the opposite direction. The pilots are managing sorties to North Sikkim before the scheduled flights to Bagdogra and then returning to carry on the North Sikkim mission.
The helicopter has been carrying locals, Army and GREF personnel and disaster management personnel of the State government apart from transporting medicines, ration, pipes, tarpaulin and other relief materials to the affected areas. It has also been lifting ration from Mangan to the affected areas.
It is informed that the Pawan Hans helicopter on 23 September flew 8 sorties and transported 29 people and air-lifted 254 kilos of relief materials. On 24 September, it flew 8 sorties of rescue operations again and transported 33 people, and reached 386 kgs of relief materials. Its busiest day was 25 September, when a total of 16 sorties were clocked, 59 people transported and 736 kgs of relief materials shipped.
Meanwhile, given the devastation suffered by the North Sikkim Highway, STDC has also announced subsidized flights from Gangtok to Chungthang, Lachung and Lachen from Thursday onwards for the convenience of the people in these cut off areas of North Sikkim.

Gangtok-Mangan traffic opened via Dzongu

The stunning block at Thingchim Zero in Lower Mangshila on the Dikchu-Mangan road. This will take several days to clear and traffic is thus moving from Dikchu to Mangan via Dzongu. Although transhipment is possible here, most commuters are not too keen on taking the risk and are opting for the longer diversion through Dzongu instead.

MANGAN, 26 Sept: The North district headquarter town which has been cut off from the past few days owing to a litter of slides, was opened for road travel to Gangtok via a rather circuitous route through Dzongu via Sangkalang and Hee Gyathang on to Dikchu and beyond.
The regular Gangtok-Mangan traffic which was plying on the Pangthang-Dikchu-Mangan route was hit by around 5 slides between Dikchu-Mangan.
Even the road through Dzongu was blocked near Tareng and Sangdong in Lower Dzongu. These were cleared today after restoration works carried out by BRO and connecting Mangan to the rest of the State.
However, traffic via RangRang will take a few days more as huge boulders and debris still hold fast at Lower Mangshila near Thingchim Zero [see fotos of the spot and the transhipment in progress there.

North Sikkim flashflood, landslide update [as of 3 p.m. 26 Sept 2012]

1. Weather has improved.
2. The road connectivity between Mangan and Rangrang which was blocked at Ambithang  is now cleared and opened for light vehicles and for normal traffic it will be opened by tomorrow.
3. Rescue & Relief operations going on and 7 bodies are yet to be recovered. The efforts are on.
4. Helicopter service still in operation for Search and Rescue.
5. One Air Force Helicopter has been deployed for supply of food and essential commodities at Lachung. About 36 rice bags already transported to Lachung and more trips will be arranged.
6. Army has been requested to supply 2000 liters of diesel at Lachung.
7. Assessment of food situation carried out and is comfortable.
8. Water supply has been restored in Chungthang, Power supply is being done through generator.
9. Normal power supply is expected to be restored within 2 days.

The State Government led by Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police is monitoring and reviewing the search, rescue and relief operation on daily basis. Essential food and supply is taken care of. The Civil Administration along with the Central forces and pubic is working day and night to restore the situation to normalcy. For further clarification may contact State Control Room 03592-201145, 03592-201075, 9647872307, 9343184375.
(S.B.S Bhadauria)
Secretary cum State Relief Commissioner

Road disruptions add to Lachung’s cut off woes

WANGCHUK BHUTIA

MANGAN, 25 Sept: The monsoons have not been kind to North Sikkim and have been especially harsh on the road infrastructure. While most of the district is cut off at present, the woes for Lachung have been more persistent. Its road disrupted since the earthquake last year, in the latest instance, the road to Lachung has been closed more often than open since a massive slide tore away a 150 metre section at Khedum, a few kilometres short of Lachung, on 06 August 2012. While BRO had managed to repair the road a month later, it did not hold for long and transhipment was the only option available here for most times.
Now, with the road to Chungthang beset with more than 36 major and minor slides, the people of Lachung are a worried lot because even transhipment is no longer an option.
The biggest worry of the people is with regard to medical emergencies. Several residents, while speaking to NOW! today, pointed out that Lachung has many senior citizens in residence and as is a challenge of their advanced years, most are in frail health. Given the condition of the roads, taking them out of Lachung in the event of a medical emergency is now impossible.
The residents accept that the roads throughout the district have been devastated and highlight that what they urgently require at present are better medical facilities at Lachung itself. The village has a Primary Health Sub Centre which has a prescribed strength of one nurse. Given the inaccessibility of Lachung to better healthcare facilities, the villagers have appealed for the deployment of at least one doctor for the village.
Apart from this worry, the residents also share that while adequate stocks of essential items have been maintained, they have begun facing shortage of vegetables, LPG and Kerosene. It may be mentioned here that officials state that the road to Lachung will take at least another 20 days to restore.

Still staggering from Friday fury of slides, BRO begins recovery mission

Recovery efforts continued into the third day on Monday at the Rangma Range on the Chungthang-Lachen axis where the 86 RCC HQ was destroyed by a flash-flood induced landslide on Friday evening. The task is difficult, given that the debris is 8 metres deep, 200 metres long and 60 metres wide.

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: The Border Roads Organisation has begun engaging its resources in the restoration of communication, especially, road communication, in the North district from today onwards. This engagement notwithstanding, priority also remains with the recovery of the mortal remains of the BRO personnel feared killed in the massive landslide which collapsed on the headquarters of the 86 Road Construction Company (RCC) of the BRO at Rangma Range about 4 kms beyond Chungthang towards Lachen last Friday. Twelve people, all of the BRO including family members, are feared killed in this incident. Two more bodies were recovered from the debris today leaving four bodies yet to be recovered.
The North Sikkim Highway meanwhile is a jumble of slips and slides of a scale so staggering that the BRO officials are not even hazarding a guess on by when the roads can be reliably opened for traffic. The Mangan to Chungthang axis has 36 slides, while the two roads out of Chungthang towards Lachen and Lachung have as many as 70 slides. With the 86 RCC headquarters completely destroyed by massive boulders, “as big as buildings”, brought down by Barey Khola which broke its banks on Friday evening, even this unit will have to be relocated first.
The series of flashfloods and landslides which have caused havoc in North district is also being said to be due to the earthquakes that the state experienced both last year and this year which destabilized the terrain. BRO officials state that while last year’s earthquake had weakened and destabilized the terrain and geographical morphology of the area, the tremor which coursed through Sikkim on the first anniversary of the earthquake further deteriorated the situation. Cloud-bursts shortly after led to saturation of the slopes and triggered a series of landslides and rains which led to water bodies in the higher reaches bursting as well, it is being speculated.
With the prospect of more rains the BRO has now put up sentries and early warning systems along the potential trouble zones and is also relocating its personnel.
Rescue and restoration works are going to present a major challenge with continuing rainfall and active landslides.
In fact, it is informed that last night too there was a landslide in North Sikkim. The slide at Rangma Range is said to be 200 metres long, 60 m wide and about 8 m in height.
While the BRO has suffered a major blow through his natural calamity there are many who believe that this was in the making. In fact this disaster is being said to be of the same proportion [in what it wreaked on the road network], if not more, to the Earthquake of 18 September, 2011.
It would take a minimum of 4 weeks to restore the roads up to Chungthang. Lanthey Khola and Singhik are informed to be major bottlenecks and the BRO is not venturing a guess yet as to when this section could be restored. However all available resources have been mobilized and the BRO is also getting help from the state government and the army. Following the restoration of communications the agency would begin assessing the extent of damages including in monetary terms.

Chungthang loses water and power supply lines to slides

DIKCHU, 24 Sept: Spared a direct impact of the flashfloods and landslides which have scarred the hills around it with ferocity, Chungthang in North Sikkim, cut off from the rest of the State expect by helicopter sorties, has immediate worries over water and electricity supply. The series of slides have disrupted the supply lines of both, water and electricity to the region, and although stop-gap arrangements are in place at present, the residents aspire for more permanent and resilient solution.
As things stand, the town and its surrounding areas have been without power and water supply since Friday. Impressively, for anyone who has seen the scale of damage, the Power Department managed to restore electricity supply to Toong today and are confident of completing the repairs up to Chungthang by Thursday at the latest.
In the meanwhile, the SDM office has arranged power for streetlights by pressing three generators into service. Further, the Chungthang household will be provided with kerosene on Tuesday to meet lighting requirements at home.
As for the water supply, the PHE Department is engaged in repairing the lines even as drinking water is being supplied across town in tankers provided by Teesta Urja. A problem however persists in that the water at the source is also murky and muddy at present. The water supply line is expected to be restored in the next few days. [from WANGCHUK BHUTIA]

The Rangma Range Horror

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
CHUNGTHANG, 24 Sept:  “It was a horrific night as around 50 of us [86 RCC staff] spent the entire night huddled inside vehicles, too fearful to proceed anywhere since we did not know which areas were safe and unable to venture out since it was pitch dark and dangerous,” recollects Bhupendra Kumar, of the BRO personnel caught in the landslide which tore through the 86 Road Construction Company headquarter at Rangma late on Friday evening. Twelve lives, including wives and two children of BRO officials, were lost to the incident that night. Eight bodies have been recovered so far.
As for the camp, it is lost. The damage too extensive, and the location too dangerous to be resettled.
The camp, around 4 km ahead of Chungthang towards Lachen, is the worst hit by the 21 September series of landslides. The inundation here was brought down by the Darek Khola which flows through the camp and which broke its banks at 7 p.m. on Friday. Apart from the lives lost, standing infrastructure has sustained extensive damage – two tipper trucks, one Ashok Leyland truck, one 407 carrier, two ambulances and an air compressor lie buried under the debris.
A cluster of houses along with the GREF office and other staff quarters have been washed away. Offcials inform that office documents have also been lost.
Meanwhile, the BRO personnel have been shifted to the ITBP camp nearby for present.
OC 86 RCC, Maj. Mukesh Kumar, while speaking to NOW! said, “We have not ascertained the extent of damage to the road and have been engaged in relief and rescue for the past couple of days. That said, we have already begun restoration works at some of the places.”

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.

Damage enormous, but situation under control

The day is clear, making the scars even starker. An IPR aerial photograph of Chungthang on a flight into the North District subdivisional town of Chungthang on Monday. Pegong can be seen in the foreground and Chungthang and the hills further north fill the background. 

The CS and DGP at Chungthang

CS, DGP AND RELIEF COMMISSIONER TOUR SLIDE-RAVAGED NORTH DISTRICT
GANGTOK, 24 Sept: Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso and Director General of Police Jasbir Singh accompanied by the Secretary cum State Relief Commissioner S.B.S Bhadauria visited Mangan and Chungthang today and also made an aerial survey of the landslide and flashflood affected areas of North district. The officials toured the affected area on the Pawan Hans helicopter of the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation.
The damage is enormous in locations directly hit by slides and flashfloods, the Relief Commissioner informs in press communiqué issued this evening, highlighting that the access route from Gangtok to Mangan and onwards to Chungthang and towards Lachen and Lachung are littered with around 80 landslides of various dimensions.
The Chief Secretary also held a meeting with the officers & staff of Chungthang Sub Divisional Office, Army, BRO, members of panchayat and other concerned and reviewed the current situation in the area.
Several issues and immediate concern were discussed at this meeting and directions issued to resolve them.
Upon being informed about the limited diesel and petrol stocks at Chungthang, the CS requested the Army and BRO to meet the civilian requirement till further arrangements are made, the Relief Commissioner informs.
Like was the case after the earthquake last year, water supply lines have been disrupted at Chungthang this time as well and at present, the water supply is being done through tankers. The concerned engineers are working on restoration and informed the meeting that regular supply will be restored within 4 days.
The telecommunication network has also been hit and at present only the mobile phone network is working but some areas don’t even have this coverage, and accordingly the Chief Secretary directed the concerned agencies to reach network coverage to all the areas, the RC informs. Meanwhile, Satellite Phones have been provided.
Chunthang’s power supply requirements are currently being met through generators and regular supply is expected to be restored within 7-10 days.
As for the damaged road connectivity, the CS directed BRO to put all resources into opening of the roads for vehicular traffic at the earliest and suggested that temporary diversions be made for smaller vehicles. This is being taken up immediately, the Relief commissioner informs.
On the stocks available in the cut-off areas, there is no shortage of essential items at present and buffer stock of foodgrains is available for at least a month, officials inform.
At the meeting, the Chief Secretary also directed the Chungthang SDM to carry out all relief & rescue operations efficiently and to distribute Relief & Ex-Gratia to affected families.
Meanwhile, the State Govt. plans to approach the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Disaster Management Authority to send a central team immediately to assess the damage and to provide financial support for rescue & relief.
The CS also convened a meeting at Mangan with the District Officials to assess the situation.
When informed of the need to air-drop ration at Toong, Naga, the meeting decided that the service be made available on Tuesday itself.
The North District Administration has also sought the services of a suggested team from the Mines, Mineral & Geology Department to assess the stability in Mangan and Chungthang area. The Chief Secretary assured that the team will be immediately deployed.
The CS also directed the DC, North to take all measures for relief & rehabilitation of affected families. Although the damage is extensive, the situation is well under control, the Relief Commissioner assures.

Litter of slides shut down North Sikkim Highway

Negotiating the slide at Theng on North Sikkim Highway

Chiyan Dara near Singhik

Crossing Lanthey Khola on North Sikkim Highway

The Manul slip zone

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
GANGTOK, 23 Sept: The road from Mangan to Chungthang has been ambushed by 13 major slides at Singhik, Lanthey, Theng and Meyong while there are 36 slides on the road from Chungthang to Lachung. The road from Chungthang to Lachen has also been affected by multiple slides. The road from Chungthang to Lachung and Lachen will take 15 days to restore, inform BRO officials.
The road from Chungthang to Mangan is blocked at 6-7 spots which will take more than 20 days to open while the one from Mangan-Passingdong is also blocked and will take 3-4 days to open.
The Dikchu-Mangan route via Sangkalang is closed at several locations and will take considerable time to restore.
The highway towards Gangtok and Singtam is also blocked at Namok khola and 4th mile where the GREF will begin work by tomorrow.
“We were focusing on and engaged primarily in rescue and relief work at Chungthang but have now started working on restoring the roads from today”, said OC 86 RCC, Major Mukesh Kumar while speaking to NOW!
The BRO has also stated that it may take a month or more to restore road connectivity in North Sikkim.
Meanwhile, Zilla Adhyakshya Khamsoong Lepcha has advised those with relatives at Mangan and Chungthang to travel to these places only in case of emergencies as the condition of roads is very poor.

Slides displace 5 families at Ambithang

MANGAN, 23 Sept: Mangan bazaar including Ambithang village has been severely affected by slides triggered by heavy rainfall for the past few days.
The SDM Mangan, PW Lepcha while speaking to NOW! today informed that five families of Ambithang have been shifted to safer locations and provided with tents and other necessary items by the administration. He further informed that around 50 families in North Sikkim have been displaced due to major and minor damages sustained by their houses.
The North district administration is disbursing ex-gratia to all the victims, as per the norms, he added.
The houses of Sujit  Biswakarma, Chyangba Tamang, Suraj Chettri and Kendra Man Limboo have been partially damaged and they have all been shifted to safer locations. A pig farm with 5 piglets belonging to TT Bhutia, Pempa Sherpa and Aiata Raj Limboo of Ambithang village was also swept away by a slide.
The DM (N), TW Khangsarpa, Sr SP(N), BK Tamang, SDM Mangan, PW Lepcha, GREF Staff and Disaster Management department DPO, SW Lepcha inspected the affected area and have managed to maintain the log bridge for transshipment of travelers towards Gangtok.
The landslide at Ambithang, Ghatey khola has also put Rangrang village in danger. Meanwhile, the DC North today announced that all the schools of North District will remain closed from 24 to 28 September.

State of Alert declared along Teesta

GANGTOK, 23 Sept [IPR]: The State Government has declared a State of Alert along the establishments located on the river banks right from Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, Mangan, Dikchu, Singtam and Rangpo. All Police Stations have been directed to inform the public and to instruct them to remain in safer places and abide by all safety measures

Landslide claims one at Kusung

GANGTOK, 23 Sept: One person was killed in a landslide that occured in Kusung near Tingvong in Upper Dzongu, North Sikkim this afternoon while another has been injured.  The slide also damaged the CMRHM houses in the village, it is informed. A landslide also occurred in Shipgyer area where 4 log bridges have been washed away. It may be mentioned that Dzongu too is cut off from the rest of the district due to landslides.

Overnight rain flushes away North Sikkim Highway

District officials negotiate a stretch of what used to be a section of the North Sikkim Highway at Chiyandara near Singhik a few kms ahead of Mangan towards Chungthang.

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 20 Sept: Heavy overnight rainfall has severely compromised the Mangan-Chungthang road connectivity with the stretch disrupted at several spots by landslides. As per data posted by the Meteorological Office Gangtok on its website, 196.6 mm rainfall was recorded in Mangan today. Interestingly, the Met Office’s forecast for Mangan had been 10 mm of rainfall.
The road is blocked at Singhik, a few kilometers out of Mangan towards Chungthang where the road formation has been washed out and a slide has also damaged a section at Chiyandara near Singhik.
The damage at Lanthey Khola further up is the most challenging with an 80 metre stretch of the road washed away by a massive slide. This will take at least 20 days to restore and repair for vehicular traffic and at present even transshipment is not possible for commuters.
The road is also blocked at Theng and the Toong-Shipgyer alternative is also blocked.
Mangan SDM, PW Lepcha, along with TO (Training Officer) and QRT (Quick respond Team) of Mangan EOC (Emergency Operation Center) Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) under Land Revenue Department walked up to Lanthey Khola on an inspection today and to assess the condition.  The team could not proceed beyond Lanthey Khola due to the massive slide there.
The Border Roads Organisation managed to clear the Mangan-Pakshep road by afternoon today, only light vehicles can ply on it at present especially in light of the damage suffered by the North Sikkim Highway near Mangan Bazar at Rabong Khola.
Similarly, the Mangan-Dzongu road is also blocked near Sangakalang as is the Sangkalang-Ringdang road where two landslips are blocking the road.
The road to Upper Dzongu is also blocked at two places near Namprikdang.
While restoration works have begun, given the severity of some of the slides, no projections are being offered on by when the roads can be restored.

Landslides hit North Sikkim homes

MANGAN, 20 Sept: Numerous major and minor landslides triggered by last night’s heavy rainfall have damaged several houses in the villages of Pakshep and Kazor under Singhik Sentam GPU of Mangan Sub-Division in North Sikkim.
Houses belonging to Santey Chettri, Bhakta Bahadur Chettri (both wooden houses), Dawa Tamang (ekra house) and under construction bathroom and toilet of Arjun Limboo of Pakshep village have been damaged by the slides which occurred this morning.
Fortunately, no loss of life has been reported. Apart from these, landslides also damaged agricultural plots belonging of Pempa Lepcha, Lakpa Tamang, Kumar Tamang, Suk Bahadur Tamang, Passang Tamang, and Bir Bahadur Tamang of the same village.
Classes at Pakshep School also got disrupted as slush entered the school.
Likewise, a landslide has damaged houses belonging to Dil Kumar Subba and Chung Chung Lepcha at Kazor village of the same GPU.
Since early this morning, villagers were engaged in diverting water running wild on the road, their efforts helping save some of houses from damage, informed ward panchayat, Kazor ward, Gajem Lepcha.
One wooden house belonging to Mercy Tamang of Ambithang Mangan also suffered damages due to a landslide while another house belonging to Paul Singh Subba is at risk.
A landslide has also been reported at RangRang village today where the slide damaged the CC footpath and Log Bridge which connects the Chandey village and RangRang. Owing to this, students coming from Chandey village could not attend their classes today.
One of the local residents, MB Thapa while speaking to NOW! informed that the construction of the log bridge at this spot was an urgent need especially for the school children and immediate restoration work needs to be undertaken. Several other houses belonging to MB Limboo, PM Thapa, Dorjee Ongey Bhutia, PB Tamang of RangRang are also at risk.
SDM Mangan, PW Lepcha visited the affected area to take stock of damages.
The SDM, while speaking to NOW!, informed that one family at Pakshep has been shifted to a safer location. He further informed that the North District administration has directed the Nagar Panchayat and BAC to prepare the list of damages and added that the disbursement of ex-gratia as per the norms will be announced shortly.