Rains damage makeshift Balasan bridge; traffic hit

SNS, SILIGURI, 16 JUNE 2022: An alternative road over the River Balasan, which was constructed last year after a portion of the existing bridge collapsed owing to heavy rainfall, was damaged last night after the 1 fill areas in both Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and also Sikkim received heavy rainfall over t he past 48 hours.

The Siliguri Metropolitan Police was on an alert and it had to divert traffic and impose restrictions on the movement of vehicles on the makeshift bridge today.

According to met officials in Gangtok in Sikkim, the region has received perhaps the highest rainfall for the period between 1 June and 16 June this year. The cumulative rainfall record since 2013, from 1 to 16 June, shows that Gangtok received 343 mm of rainfall in 2013, while it was 502 mm and 486 mm in 2015 and 2021, respectively. Significantly, the Gangtok region received 632.5 mm since 1 June this year. Talking to reporters, Commissioner of the Siliguri Metropolitan Police Gaurav Sharma said: "We had readied the blueprint of an alternative traffic management system, apprehending damage of an alternative diversion road over the river. Our officials who were in touch with the transport as well as bus owners' associations brought the situation under control by applying the 'standard operating procedure'."

"In the interest of the public, proper arrangements will be made if the situation improves or deteriorates," Mr Sharma said, adding, "There is no problem of traffic movement at present."

Met officials have alerted that northern North Bengal region will receive heavy rainfall till 19 June.