Incessant rains over the last 48 hours have affected the repair of roads.
Hundreds of tourists and locals remained stranded in North Bengal and Sikkim on Thursday following landslides caused due to incessant rains.
While most highways remained cut off from the cities and towns, tourists had to spend hours in the vehicles, waiting for the roads to be cleared of the debris. Locals also could not step out of their houses, affecting normal life in these parts.
The landslides occurred in Alipurduar and Darjeeling district of Bengal. A portion of an arterial road between Siliguri and Sevok in Jalpaiguri district caved in due to the landslip. Another road, Mirik in the district of Darjeeling also collapsed.
Incessant rains over the last 48 hours have affected the repair works of these hill roads.
The North Bengal Development Minister, Gautam Deb has said that the tourists are safe and the government will ensure all arrangements are being made for smooth movement of traffic. “Repair works are going on the highways and the roads, where landslides have occurred. Meanwhile, all vehicles are being diverted to other routes till the time all roads are repaired. All tourists are safe,” said Deb.
In Siliguri, the National Highway 10, which connects Siliguri with Sikkim and Kalimpong remained completely cut off due to the landslides. Another landslide occurred at Legship, near Pelling, in Sikkim severely affecting road traffic movement between Darjeeling and Legship.
Bengal’s Darjeeling and Alipurduar districts and Sikkim see the highest footfall of tourists during the Durga Puja.
The rivers Teesta and Jaldhaka in Jalpaiguri, Mahananda of Darjeeling, Santosh and Kaljani of Alipurduar district have been overflowing. Several low-lying areas of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri have been inundated after the lock-gates on the Teesta River were opened.
The weatherman has predicted that these areas will receive more rainfall over the next 24 hours.
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