Landslides in neighbouring state of Sikkim block roads, halt toy train and damage cars

The rainfall also swelled some rivers in the Dooars that eroded away patches of land and flooded a few localities in the Alipurduar district

Workers clear landslide debris at Lebong Cart Road in Darjeeling on Friday

TT Bureau Siliguri/Alipurduar, 06.07.24 : Heavy monsoon rain across sub-Himalayan Bengal and in the neighbouring state of Sikkim triggered fresh landslides that blocked roads, damaged cars and halted the toy train service.

The rainfall also swelled some rivers in the Dooars that eroded away patches of land and flooded a few localities in the Alipurduar district.

In Darjeeling, a landslide took place near the Loreto Convent School along 18th Lebong Cart Road. The debris damaged two vehicles parked nearby.

“A landslide had occurred at the same spot in 1997. Due to the poor drainage system, small landslips have been taking place in that area almost every year,” said a resident.

Another landslide was reported from near the Darjeeling railway station.

No casualties were reported from both the sites.

The NH-10, which connects Sikkim and Kalimpong with Siliguri and the rest of the country, remained closed for the sixth consecutive day on Friday between Chitrey and Shwetijhora. Vehicles bound for Sikkim and Kalimpong from Siliguri and vice-versa had to take alternative routes.

Officials of the NH division of Bengal public works department (PWD) said they were cutting the mountainside to widen the highway along a 100-metre stretch near Birikdara as the existing alignment of the road had caved in.

Incessant rain is impeding restoration work at the site, they said.

“The downpour has led to at least 30-odd landslides along the 52km stretch of NH-10 from the coronation bridge at Sevoke till Rangpo. Also, there has been cave-ins at some locations. The debris has been removed from most of the stretches but near Birikdara, we have to carry out major work as the road has sunk and the mountainside has to be cut to rebuild the road,” said an official.

The rainfall also swelled the Teesta, which flooded the Kalimpong-Darjeeling Road via Peshok, halting traffic movement among the two hill towns.

“Vehicles are taking the Lava-Algarah-Gorubathan route to reach Siliguri from Sikkim and Kalimpong,” said a source in the Kalimpong district administration.

The rainfall also led to minor landslides along the route of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) toy train.

As rubbles descended on and near the tracks, the railway authorities announced the cancellation of regular passenger service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling stations on Friday.

“The service has been cancelled keeping in mind the safety of passengers,” said an official of DHR.

In Kurseong town, four houses were damaged in different wards by landslides triggered by heavy rain. The incident has prompted the board of administrators of the local civic body to appeal to the residents of the hill town not to carry out any construction during the monsoon.

“Abrupt disposal of construction materials in the drains and ‘jhoras’ (hilly streams) have choked the sewage lines and led to the landslides. That is why, we have asked people to refrain from carrying out any construction now,” said Subhash Pradhan, vice-chairman of the board of administrators of Kurseong municipality.

In Alipurduar, Sukha, a stream skirting the Mujnai tea estate in Madarihat block of the district, swelled and eroded its banks, much to the concern of the district administration.

“This is because the river is inching closer to the plot on which we are building 400 houses for tea workers under the state’s Cha Sundari scheme. The stream has eroded a chunk of land that is very close to an under construction water reservoir at the same site. We have initiated protective measures to save the construction,” an official said.

The rainfall also increased the water levels of Kaljani, a river flowing through Alipurduar town. The river spilled over its banks and inundated six wards of the town.

The civic body has engaged 14 pump sets to clear the water from the localities.

“We are keeping a close watch. If required, people will be shifted to safer places,” said R. Vimala, the district magistrate of Alipurduar.

Sources in the regional Met office in Calcutta forecast more rainfall during the next couple of days across the region.

“In some places, it might rain around 200mm. People should stay alert,” said a weather expert.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph