Roads to bridges cave in after overnight rain

The damaged approach road to Garganda bridge on NH31C.
Picture: Anirban Choudhury

TT, Alipurduar, Aug. 30: The approach road to a bridge on NH31C caved in this morning after continuous rain in the past 24 hours, disrupting traffic on the highway.

The approach road to a bridge between Lankapara and Birpara was also damaged today affecting movement of vehicles between eight Dooars tea gardens and Birpara.

After the approach road to Garganda bridge, 58km from Alipurduar and 2km from Birpara, on NH31C caved in, vehicles from Jaigaon, Hasimara and Madarihat travelling towards Birpara are having to go through Falakata, which means travelling 35km extra.

Today, buses going from Hasimara, Jaigaon and Alipurduar to Siliguri via Birpara were left stranded. Alipurduar-bound buses from Jalpaiguri and Siliguri via Birpara were also stranded. Later, the vehicles returned.

No buses plied through Birpara today. Normally, 40-odd buses run in the area daily.

Birpara is 60km from here.

Irrigation department said in 24 hours from 11am yesterday, there has been 257mm rain in Banarhat, 256mm in Hasimara and 30mm rain in Alipurduar town. Water level in the Torsha, Rydak-I and Kaljani rivers are increasing rapidly.

Subroto Sarkar, of Hasimara who was going to Siliguri to see his mother at a nursing home, said: "I travelled in a jeep up to the bridge. I crossed it on foot and I took a two-wheeler to Birpara. Then, I took a bus to Siliguri. It took me six hours to reach the destination instead of three."

Road link between eight tea gardens and Birpara snapped today after the approach way to a bridge caved in. People are taking cars up to the bridge, crossing it on foot and taking cars from the other side.

Both bridges are in Madarihat-Birpara block of Alipurduar district. Gopal Prodhan, president of Dooars Cha Bagan Workers' Union, said: "Because of heavy shower, the approach roads were damaged."

Madarihat-Birpara BDO Pemba Sherpa said repairs had started. "Hopefully, both the roads will be normal tomorrow."

In Falakata, Deogaon and Guabornagar got waterlogged today. Water level in the Dudua, Mujnai and Bala Torsha rivers has risen. Affected families have been shifted to schools.

In Jalpaiguri, water from the Teesta entered Sukantapally today. In 24 hours from 8.30am yesterday, Jalpaiguri has got 113mm rain and Siliguri got 180mm. Weather office sources said there is forecast of rainfall in the next 48 hours.