Overnight rain brings down NH 31A in a heap of slides

ANAND OBEROI
SILIGURI, 14 Sept: Last night’s heavy rains lashed through the reckless back-cutting works along National Highway 31A littering landslides which threw up serpentine traffic snarls throughout the Gangtok-Siliguri stretch. It took most commuters up to 10 hours to make the Gangtok to Siliguri journey today as the negotiated the slides in one-way files as GREF personnel worked to clear the debris.
The first slide, while moving from Sikkim to Siliguri was near Kirney between Rangpo and Melli where nearly 50 meters of the road where back cutting works have been carried out came down in a heap of debris and trees that had blocked the road completely last night.
A little further, and another section of road about 6 kms ahead, near Chitrey, had also given way just short of Lepcha Jhora Bridge. After negotiating the uneven and dangerous active slides here, the traffic jammed again near Teesta and then a few more slides along the Luku Bhir stretch.
Agitated commuters were obviously frustrated, many pointing out that this state of the road so close to the Durga Puja tourist season did not bode well for the tourism sector in the entire region.
Minor slides littered the highway from Teesta to Sevoke with substantial blocks at 29 Mile, another back cutting spot just before Lohapool, and then at two spots near Kalijhora.
With a slight drizzle throughout today, crossing and negotiating the roads posed a risk as all the slides were unstable and rocks and debris kept on falling even as vehicles passed.
Even ambulances were stuck, as were people who had trains or flights to catch because someone who left Gangtok at 10 a.m. reached Siliguri only by 6p.m. today.

Heavy downpour disrupts normal life in South Sikkim

NAMCHI, 14 Sept: Heavy overnight rainfall has upset the rhythm of life in the South district with road connectivity affected in many places in the district along with reports of damage to houses. Roads have been blocked at several places disturbing the day-to-day routine of many people who could not reach their respective places of work on time.
The road from Namchi to Phongla, Namchi to Melli and Namchi to Sumbuk were blocked due to slides, as were the roads from Phongla to Bermiok and Phongla to Mamring. Other than these, the road from Melli to Phongla and Melli to Sadam is also blocked while last night’s downpour also affected road connectivity from Yangang to Ravangla, Yangang to Singtam and Yangang to Lingmoo.
Restoration work is being carried out at all the places.
Meanwhile, a Kutcha house was severely damaged at Mellidara and another Kutcha house at Tinik Chisopani was totally damaged as well.
At Namthang, a ‘pucca’ house was partially damaged due to a mudslide triggered by the rain.
The families residing in these houses have been shifted to safer places. Heavy rainfall has also uprooted trees at several places.

Heavy rain damages houses at Phongla

NAMCHI, 31 Aug: Heavy overnight downpour has affected the residents of Phongla under Chuba Phong Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) in South Sikkim. Due to the downpour, one kutcha house has been completely damaged, while two other houses in the same locality have also been severely damaged. Officials of the Disaster Risk Management Cell South District visited the spot today and with the help of the concerned panchayat the affected families were shifted to safer places.

Jhora near Dikchu PHC poses threat during monsoon

MANGAN, 13 April:  The heavy shower of last night put the staff of Dikchu PHC at risk as the flow of water between the PHC and the staff quarters raged out of control and started overflowing towards the PHC. The Primary Health Centre at Dikchu New Market, North Sikkim is situated at the bottom of the Tanek Bhir where the 18 September earthquake had triggered a landslide which had also damaged some portion of the PHC.
Dr. Mohan Thapa, Medical Officer, Dikchu PHC, while speaking to NOW! informed that the jhora should be trained immediately and also informed that there is further risk during the coming rainy season.

NH 31A becomes Khola at Tadong

The national highway at Gairigaon, Tadong looked almost like a river on Sunday night when the storm drains along the highway failed to drain the rainwater which then poured onto the road. Even heavy vehicles found it difficult to manoever through the oncoming muddy water which was carrying small rocks, garbage, and sludge along with it. The video shows how the road looks on a normal day followed by footage taken on Sunday.