NH 10 remains closed after heavy rains, landslides, road collapse

EOI, DARJEELING, AUGUST 2, 2024 : Just a day after the Kalimpong district administration reopened the National Highway 10 for small vehicles from July 31, the highway again had to be closed to traffic for a prolonged period from Thursday following landslides in different places along the route. 

There were fresh landslides on Thursday night. Early on Friday the road was cleared but traveling along the highway was risky as rocks and boulders kept collapsing on the road and the surface of the road was developing cracks in some areas. 

The NH 10, the main link of Sikkim and Kalimpong to Siliguri, had finally opened for small vehicles with certain restrictions on Wednesday after more than a month of closure.

Following the heavy rains on Thursday night, landslides occurred at the 28th Mile and the 29th Mile along the stretch of the highway but on Friday morning the road was reopened to single-lane traffic in those spots for small vehicles. 

At Ravi Jhora, a three-feet stretch of the road collapsed but small vehicles could negotiate the stretch. At 29th Mile a mudslide along with a huge tree blocked the road. It was cleared by afternoon. With sporadic rainfall seen throughout the day, there are further chances of landslides; many vehicles used the alternate routes to Siliguri. 

Goods vehicles, buses, and other heavy vehicles are continuing to move via Reshi-Pedong-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan to Siliguri. Many light vehicles are also using alternative routes from Rangpo towards Siliguri via Munsong-17th Mile-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan to Siliguri; with movement of small vehicles from Kalimpong to Siliguri also seen via Relli-Samthar-Panbu to Siliguri and vice versa.

In the vicinity of Darjeeling town, the incessant rain of Thursday night caused minor landslides at various areas, uprooted trees, and electricity poles.