NH 10 closed, massive landslide at 20th Mile

YOWAN MOTHAY, SANJAY AGARWAL, EOI, LKALIMPONG/ RANGPO, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 : The continuous rainfall since Tuesday has once again caused the closure of National Highway-10, after its brief reopening. With the alternative route through Panbu also blocked, daily life in the hills of Kalimpong has been further affected. The rising water levels of the Teesta River have led to flooding on the route to Darjeeling.
Kalimpong District Magistrate Balasubramaniam T. said on Friday that the PWD was working on clearing both National Highway-10 and the Panbu route.

However, with both the routes now closed, Kalimpong is more like Kalapani now, cutoff and isolated. Several stretches of NH 10, including Birik Danra, Selfie Danra, and Labarbotey, continued to experience landslides, causing frequent disruptions. Local residents are facing immense difficulties as transportation is repeatedly halted. The highway, which had been closed since September 16, briefly reopened on Monday evening, only to be closed again on Tuesday due to the continuous rain and landslides, particularly in Birik Danra.

In Sikkim, a massive landslide t 20thMile on NH 10 between Rangpo and Singtam caused full-day closure of the road, leading to a manor traffic disruption. The landslide occurred early on Friday. 

Smaller vehicles and taxis opted for an alternative route via Rangpo – Duga – Singtam to bypass the blocked section of NH 10. 

 There were reports of a few vehicles getting damaged in the landslide. The condition of NH 10 has remained unstable since the Teesta River disaster on October 4 last. Residents of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Sikkim have been facing ongoing challenges due to the unpredictability of the highway, which is the lifeline for the area. 

The prolonged closure of the highway has significantly impacted the economy of these hills, education, and social life. As the heavy rain has shown no sign of stopping, the people are getting increasingly concerned about the possibility of severe damage in the coming days.