GLOF had made security of nation ‘vulnerable,’ says BRO

GANGTOK, NOVEMBER 24/--/ Now that immediate connectivity has been restored to destinations in north Sikkim like Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang and Dzongu which had been cut off since the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood on the night of October 3, the Border Roads Organization has enhanced its efforts on war footing to restore permanent connectivity between Naga and Toong and between Chungthang and Lachen by undertaking fresh formation cutting work. Large networks of roads had been washed away in these places. 

Besides, the BRO is working round-the- clock for the early construction of vital bridges at Sanklang and Toong. 

A technical survey for the construction of higher load classification bridges at Zeema and Chungthang has been completed and work is likely to commence soon. Because of the GLOF at South Lhonak Lake, north Sikkim had suffered massive destruction. 

Due to the flash flood, 13 vital bridges and sections of important National Highways 310 and 310AG, connecting the district headquarters of Mangan with Chungthang and further to Lachen and Lachung valley had got washed away. 

The massive destruction had left hundreds of tourists and locals stranded without any connectivity. 

Logistical supply lines of the armed forces had also got severed, making the security of the nation vulnerable, said the PIB release. In the initial days after the floods, BRO workers had played a key role in the safe evacuation olf hundreds of stranded tourists and villagers from Chungthang and Lachen valley by constructing a foot bridge at Chungthang and a foot track to Munsithang, in close coordination with the army, the ITBP and local people. 

Subsequently, the BRO did massive formation cutting work for two kms in less than three weeks and evacuated more than 200 villagers at Ritch village who had got cut off from the rest of the state; “thus bringing a ray of among the locals and armed forces.” 

In less than two months, BRO has restored connectivity to the Dzongu region, Chungthang and Lachen by launching multiple Bailey bridges in coordination with the army under challenging conditions