Kalimpong,10th July

Locals in Kalimpong have been spending sleepless nights due to rainfall.About 100 mm rain in a span of 12 hours in Kalimpong subdivision, has triggered numerous landslides in areas surrounding Kalimpong.

A road near Gelkhola today caved in, resulting in one-way traffic. Sinking of road around the Teesta river is a yearly phenomenon. The fresh road slide in Gelkhola came around 11 a.m., while much of the NH-10 stretch is sinking.

Meanwhile, NH-10 was blocked at two places today near 29 mile and Bhotebhir, disrupting traf fic to Kalimpong and Sikkim for about two hours. Bhotbhir has been regularly witnessing landslide, which has been a major concern for the Sikkim government.

Uttam Pradhan,AE PWD informed that the last night rainfall resulted in many landslips along the NH -10 stretch. Our machines are stationed at vulnerable places to assist in need, he added.On Saturday evening, two people died at Swetijhora as a boulder hit the vehicle they were travelling in.PWD higher authority officials today visited the NH-10 to take a stock of the situation.

On the other hand, a house at Dhobidhara under Bhalukhop gram panchaywas completely damaged owing to a landslide.One Prajay
was in the house when it started raining around 11.45 p.m. last night. He informed that his family members had been out of the town, when it started raining heavily. “The intensity of rainfall made me afraid, so I went to my aunt’s place to sleep but around 3 a.m. today,my house came crashing down.”

A newly constructed public health centre at Bong-Busti was also buried as a result of a landslide this morning. Bimalendu Das, BDO-1, informed that a panchayat team has been rushed to distribute relief material to the victims. Sabhasad Nima Tamang and JAP president Dr Harka Bahadur Chhetri visited the house at Dhobidhara.(Source SNS)