North Bengal gets over a month's rain in four days, landslides triggered, road connectivity disrupted

Region started receiving heavy rainfall from Tuesday evening after a week of dry spell when temperature had sent the temperature soaring to a record high of 29.2 degree Celsius in Darjeeling

Vivek Chhetri, Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Darjeeling/Siliguri , 29.09.24: Heavy rains continue to batter Darjeeling, Sikkim and nearby areas for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday, triggering landslides, snapping road connectivity and disrupting normal life.

Sources said while the normal monthly rainfall for sub-Himalayan Bengal and Sikkim for September is 388.1mm, Darjeeling received 538.20mm, Kalimpong 368.20mm and Siliguri 406.90mm of rainfall in four days till Saturday 8am.

The region started receiving heavy rainfall from Tuesday evening after a week of dry spell when temperature had sent the temperature soaring to a record high of 29.2 degree Celsius in Darjeeling.

The higher reaches of Sikkim also received snowfall.

"The maximum temperature is now down to 15.8 degree Celsius in Darjeeling but the rains, which cooled the region, have been creating havoc too,” said an administrative source.

Normal connectivity between Darjeeling and Kalimpong has been snapped as the road in Teesta Bazar has been submerged by the Teesta.

Connectivity from Sikkim and Kalimpong with Siliguri through the normal NH10 road has also been snapped due to multiple landslides along the highway.

“The safest route to travel from Kalimpong (and also Gangtok) to Siliguri is through Lava-Gorubathan.Even then, we advise people to travel on the route only for emergencies,” said an official from Kalimpong district.

Landslides in Lebong Cart Road, Dali in Darjeeling town and also in 7th Mile of Kalimpong disrupted traffic movement through the day. Reports of landslides from rural areas like Bijanbari were also reported.

No casualty has been reported as of now.

In Sikkim, 19 roads were affected by landslides during the day. While some have been opened, many continue to remain closed.

Administrative sources in Darjeeling said that they were discouraging tourists from taking the popular Sandakhphu trek due to heavy rains.

“We are prohibiting treks to Sandakphu because of incessant rain. We have also asked the drivers to strictly adhere to curbs until further notice,” said a source.

The trek to Sandakphu, at an altitude of 11,900 feet, starts from Maneybhanjyang, some 30km from Darjeeling.

IMD sources attributed the present condition to a cyclonic circulation over southwest Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring area that extends upto to 5.8km above sea level and moisture incursion from Bay of Bengal.

However, later on Saturday, the IMD removed all warnings for the region which suggests heavy rains might stop in the region from Sunday.

CM visit today

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled for Siliguri on Sunday for a two-day visit. Sources said she would land in Bagdogra on Sunday afternoon and head for branch secretariat Uttarkanya. At 5pm, she will attend a review meeting on the flood situation in north Bengal.

“Officials from various departments of all districts of north Bengal will be present at the meeting,” said a source.

On Monday, Mamata is likely to return to Calcutta.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph

https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/north-bengal-gets-over-a-months-rain-in-four-days-landslides-triggered-road-connectivity-disrupted/cid/2051601