1. NH10 vehicle movement halted by landslide and rain at Selfie Dhara viewpoint, Kalimpong, West Bengal.
2. Sikkim MP urges central government to address NH10 issues in Lok Sabha session.
3. Continuous rainfall and landslides disrupt traffic between West Bengal and Sikkim indefinitely.
Gangtok, July 15: Vehicle movement on NH10, connecting West Bengal with Sikkim, has been halted indefinitely due to ongoing restoration work following continuous rainfall and a landslide at the Selfie Dhara viewpoint in Kalimpong, West Bengal.
Traffic Police officer Jagdish commented, “The NH10 has been in bad condition for a few days now. Vehicular movement is stopped… The restoration work is underway. The railway JCB is also being used… It seems like the road would be open in 2-3 days…”
Earlier this month, Lok Sabha MP Indrahang Subba, representing the Sikkim Parliamentary Constituency, urged the central government during his speech in the Lok Sabha session to address the ‘typical’ issues and frequent disruptions on National Highway 10 (NH10) caused by incessant rainfall and landslides.
He emphasized the urgent need for a resolution to ensure smooth connectivity and alleviate the challenges faced by commuters. This marked the first demand for assistance regarding the monsoon situation in Sikkim raised by the Sikkim MP in the Lok Sabha session.
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Praising the Centre for developing Sikkim and its once narrow roads, Subba highlighted the importance of NH10, the only 2-lane highway in the state.
He urged for the intervention of a central agency, stating, “Following the disturbances, we have requested Prime Minister Modi to ask any central agency to intervene and look into the matter as there is no assistance from the Bengal government who have failed to maintain the road.”
Subba also asserted that Sikkim, a peaceful and beautiful state with significant tourism potential, faces typical monsoon issues, not only affecting Sikkim but the entire Himalayan region.
These issues, lasting 5-6 months each year, lead to landslides and road disturbances, affecting tourists and locals alike.