Hill detour after cave-in - NH55 subsides at bridge approach near Siliguri, 15km longer ride ahead

The approach to the Panchnoi bridge after the cave-in on Wednesday night.
Picture by Kundan Yolmo

TT,Siliguri, Sept. 24: A road cave-in near Siliguri as a result of yesterday's rain has stopped traffic on a 10km stretch of NH55 connecting Darjeeling More with Sukna, which has resulted in a 15km detour for motorists.

The road has caved in near Panchnoi bridge, on the outskirts of Siliguri town, which means vehicles going to Darjeeling from Siliguri and coming down from the hills would have to make a 15km detour.

This 10km stretch between Darjeeling More and Sukna was functional till yesterday. But a portion of the road collapsed near the Panchnoi bridge. One has to make a detour via Matigara and Khaprail More to take any of the routes to the hills. Half of the highway (NH55) from Siliguri to Kurseong is unusable now. Only vehicles moving in between local areas in between Sukna and Tindharia or likewise can ply through the highway without a detour.

The subsidence, noticed by locals as the downpour stopped around 8.30pm yesterday, prompted them to raise an alert. "As we saw that a portion of the highway, around 10 metres, had caved in, we informed the police and started regulating traffic," a local resident said.

Since this morning, all vehicles heading towards Darjeeling and vice-versa, had to take a detour via Matigara.

The portion of the road near Panchnoi bridge caved in as the level of the rivulet rose.

NH55 has yet to be repaired at two points - Tindharia and Paglajhora - after landslides. The road connects Siliguri with Darjeeling but can be used only till Kurseong, 40km from Siliguri, because of a landslide at Paglajhora in 2010.

"Since 2010, we have been moving through Rohini Road, Pankhabari Road and even via Mirik," says Kamal Pradhan, a cab driver based in Darjeeling. "Heavy vehicles take the road via Mungpoo."

"This (the latest cave-in) means an additional travel of around 15km. Also, unlike the 10km stretch of NH55, the Khaprail Road is not in excellent condition," another cab driver said.

Today morning, officials of state PWD (NH Division IX) visited the site and ordered immediate restoration works at the damaged stretch. "We expect to restore the road by tomorrow so that vehicles can ply this route," Ajay Singh, the executive engineer of PWD's NH division IX, said.