Despite ordeal, tourists to return to Hills

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, SILIGURI, 20 OCTOBER 21 : Despite the hardships they failed, the harrowing and sleepless n ight s t hey spent on the roads as a result of the lashing rains and landslides, tourists, especially front other areas in West Bengal, today said they would certainly visit the Hills again next time.

Several tourists were stranded at different areas in the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong as landslides triggered by heavy rainfall blocked roads, swept away houses and led to cars fall off from cliffs yesterday. According to tour operators, at least 800 tourists visiting Kalimpong and Sikkim spent a sleepless night on the roads in between 20-29 Mile on National  Highway-10 yesterday.

Abin Mitra, who had to return to Lava in Kalimpong after he failed to go down to the Dooars after a big pine tree fell on the road last evening, said he experienced landslides even at midnight at the place where he took shelter for the night. Mr Mitra, a visual artist, said he woke up after locals alerted the resort owner and tourists when landslides started at midnight.

Mr Mitra, as he climbed down to Batabari after the route from Algarah to Lava and up to Garubathan and Damdim was cleared this afternoon, said: 'Despite the hardships, tourists will not stop visiting the Hills for its ethereal beauty and climatic conditions, though we experienced a bitter situation this time. But we have learnt a lesson that we should take all precautionary measures and be prepared for anything even if it is a day-long tour of the Hills."

"As avisual artist, I also plan to showcase the dark side' of the Hills and its beauty after experiencing this trip to Kalimpong," Mr Mitra said.

Similarly, one Ashok Choudhury said he had to spend a sleepless night in his car with his family members after being stranded in between Algarah and Lava in Kalimpong.

When contacted, Mr Choudhury said: "Yes, we have finally arrived at a destination after walking for at least 5 km. Around 9 am today, we finally started walking. We spent a sleepless night on the road as we were in no position to move since late last evening."

Notably, tour operators' associations and members started rescuing the stranded tourists at several spots in the Hills, including the Sikkim areas, which were severely hit by the rains. Most of the roads connecting different destinations remained blocked having failed to clear roads since last evening, the West Bengal district administration engaged its machineries like the district disaster management teams, while the NDRF was also pressed into service to clear the roads and rescue stranded tourists.

Tour operators said they were flooded with phone calls from tourists, who were scheduled to reach Siliguri today and tomorrow. "Some also asked whether they should cancel their trip to the Hills, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim," a tour operator said.

According to sources, Kalimpong received 335 mm of rain fallen the past few days, while around 100 houses were damaged.

The convener of the Association for Conservation and Tourism (ACT) expressed hope that almost all the blocked roads in Darjeeling and Kalimpong will be restored by tomorrow, and at least three days will be required t o restore all the blocked roads in Sikkim.

"We will let tourists know about the situation so that they can execute their scheduled tour programmes properly," Mr Basu said.

Since morning today, tour operators informed tourists as well as authorities concerned about the landslides on National Highway-55 at Mahanadi, while they said Rohini and Pankhabari roads to Darjeeling from Siliguri remained open alternatively for traffic. However, landslides occurred at places from Pokhriabong to Sukhia Pokhari and Ghoom to Bijanbari, blocking roads, while one small bridge in Maney Bhanjyang connecting Rimbick was damaged.

Tourists, who managed to reach Siliguri yesterday from the Hills, faced another problem in the plains as they failed to go to Bagdogra Airport directly after a bridge at Matigara on the NH-31 caved in this morning.

Notably, 18 flights were cancelled at the Bagdogra Airport yesterday, while only seven were cancelled today. A total of 32 flights landed in Bagdogra and 32 departed today, sources said. A total of 4530 passengers arrived at the Bagdogra and 4752 passengers departed from there.

In Sikkim, Reshi Nayabazar road at Rungdung, Dentam Uttarey road near Singshore bridge, Heegoan to Chayatal road at Chourasta and Gyalshing to Sakyong road near Gyalshing Bazar were blocked, sources said. Similarly, several landslips occurred along the Kaluk-Dentam road in Sikkim, according to tour operators.

On the other side of Sikkim, tourist destination Namchi to Melli vai Kitam road was blocked at Allaykhat and even Namchi to Jorethang road was blocked at Denchung. An alternative route vai Assangthang was clear, according to the operators.

However, Namchi to Namthang and Namthang to Rangpo routes, Ravangla to Yangang and Hingdam to Tashiding and Namchi to Damthang at Sanduptse Fatak routes were blocked due to landslides. Tourists faced problems as the Jorethang Mali road was blocked at Thuloogolai.

According to Raj Basu, Rorathang Rongli was closed due to many major and minor landslips, and the Assam Pakyong road was closed due to major and minor slips. Due to landslides, the Lall Turning Basilakha, Pakyong Machong Rolep Chujachen road, Pakyong Mamring road and others like Bega Tuming Bering road were closed.