Incessant rain triggers landslides in the Hills

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 13 Aug 2023 | Darjeeling: Incessant rainfall in the Darjeeling Hills triggered a landslide on National Highway 55 at Chunabhatti, in the Kurseong sub-division. Minor landslides were also reported in Kalimpong district. 

However, no loss of life has been reported. National Highway 55, connecting Darjeeling town with the plains of Siliguri, has been blocked due to a landslide in the Chunabhatti area, below Tindharia. 

At around 10 am on Sunday, the landslide occurred shutting down traffic for around three hours. The landslide was caused from debris and uprooted trees sliding down from the Old Military Road on the NH-55, thereby blocking it. 

A large tree also fell on the road and railway track and debris continued to slide down. The uprooted tree was later removed to clear the railway tracks and the road was opened for vehicular traffic also. 

Due to traffic, cars were lined up for as many as 2-3 hours. However, around 1 pm, traffic resumed. There are still chances of a bigger slide washing away the Old Military Road if heavy rains continue. 

In Mirik, the house of one Madhukar Khati was damaged in a landslide at Godamdhura in Seyoke. A landslide also occurred on the Sukhiapokhari Road with an uprooted tree blocking the road. 

Later, the tree was cleared by the police, with traffic resuming. In Kalimpong district, around four landslides occurred on the road leading from Kalimpong to remote areas of Sinji, Samalbong, Pabong, Charkhol, Samthar, Nimbong. 

“However, alternate roads are operational. Debris have been cleared in most of the slides,” said R Vimala, district Magistrate, Kalimpong. 

Courtesy & source- Millennium Post

 https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/incessant-rain-triggers-landslides-in-the-hills-529173