Gangtok: The lifeblood connecting Sikkim’s capital Gangtok with the West Bengal plains has been severed. National Highway 10, a vital artery for commerce and tourism, has been completely shut down to all vehicular traffic for a period of three days following a series of alarming landslides and road cave-ins.
The closure, which commenced at 8 pm on August 3, is expected to last until 6 pm on August 6, as authorities rush to mend a critical crack that has developed on the highway in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal.
Officials from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) have expressed hope that the repair work can be completed within the stipulated timeframe. The crack, which was spotted between the iconic Coronation Bridge and Chitrey, has raised serious safety concerns, prompting the decisive action to close the route. The shutdown is not only a major inconvenience for those travelling between Siliguri and Gangtok but is also set to disrupt traffic flow to Kalimpong, a popular hill station.
In response to the closure, the Kalimpong Police have issued advisories for small vehicles, recommending alternative routes to reach Gangtok from Siliguri. Motorists are advised to take the scenic but longer detours via Damdim-Gorubathan-Lava-Alagarah or Bagrakote-Lava-Alagarah. However, for heavy vehicles, the situation is more restrictive, with their movement between Siliguri and Gangtok being completely halted. The disaster-prone nature of the highway has once again come to the forefront, highlighting the precarious balance between connectivity and safety in the region.
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