NH-10 opens for Sikkim-bound traffic, rain affects NH-55

Amitava Banerjee, MP, 12 July 2019, Darjeeling: With 8 days of incessant rainfall, the Kurseong Darjeeling stretch of the National Highway 55 has been affected. However, the National Highway 10 to Sikkim opened up on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, a land slip occurred below the Thoteykhola culvert on National Highway 10 at Tung around 8 km from Kurseong. The culvert has stated sinking as a result. Heavy vehicles have been stopped from plying owing to this and the road is open to one-way traffic for light vehicles.

Vehicles plying from Darjeeling to Kurseong are taking a detour via Dilaram, Bagora, Chimney and then to Zero Point, Kurseong. From Kurseong to Darjeeling, light vehicles are plying through Tung. Debris was cleared at Setijhora, opening up NH-10 to Sikkim to vehicular traffic at around 6:30 pm. The NH-10 had been closed down since Wednesday afternoon.

The Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang had to take a detour via Darjeeling while returning to Sikkim on Friday afternoon.

Two detours were open for vehicles plying to Siliguri from Sikkim and Kalimpong before NH-10 opened up. The routes are Kalimpong-Teesta Bazar-Peshok-Jorebungalow-Kurseong-Siliguri and Kalimpong-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan (Pandara More)–Damdim–Odlabari-Mongpong-Coronation Bridge-Sevok-Siliguri.

A Sikkim vehicle plying from Rongpu via Birikdanra, Lanku to Siliguri met with an accident at 3:30 pm in Birikdanra. There were 8 persons in the vehicle, including the driver. The condition of 3 is reported to be critical. All were taken to Rambi primary health centre, from where the 3 were referred to Siliguri.

Meanwhile the body of Aman Garg was fished out of River Teesta at Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri district.