MUKESH SHARMA
KALIMPONG
JULY 5TH
THE OVERNIGHT AND MORNING RAIN RESULTED IN FIRST MAJOR LANDSLIDE IN N.H 31 (A)  AT 31 MILE BIRIK DARA WHICH BROUGHT HIGHWAY TO A TOTAL HALT OF 8 AND A HALF HOUR. THE ROAD CONNECTION FOR KALIMPONG AND SIKKIM WAS TOTALLY CUT OFF FROM REST OF INDIA DUE TO THE LANDSLIDE ABOUT 8 KM JAM OCCURRED FROM BOTH SIDE OF THE ROAD AS 3 JCB AND 1 EXCAVATOR WAS BUSYING CLEARING THE STONES AND MUD . MANY TOURIST AND PASSENGER VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN THE JAM . PEOPLE STUCKED EITHER WAYS WERE ALLOWED TO GO AND TRANSIP AT 2 P.M, LATER POLICE DIVERTED THE VEHICLE FROM TEESTA  AND MUNGPOO TO REACH SILIGURI. LAST YEAR THE SAME AREA CREATED A LOT OF PROBLEM DUE TO FREQUENT SLIDE AFTER WHICH GREF AND BRO STARTED WIDENING THE ROAD , THE LOCAL HAVE SAID THAT THE WIDENING OF ROAD IS A CAUSE FOR TODAY'S LANDSLIDE . THE HIGHWAY WAS RESTORED FOR ONE WAY TRAFFIC AT 6 P.M . TEESTA , LIKUVEER, 29 MILE , BIRIK DARA AND SEVOKE ARE SENSATIONAL AREA IN N.H 31 (A) WHICH LIES IN KALIMPONG SUBDIVISION .