Northeast, July 15, 2024: Vehicle movement on NH10, the crucial highway connecting West Bengal with Sikkim, has been halted indefinitely due to restoration work following continuous rainfall and a landslide at the Selfie Dhara viewpoint in Kalimpong, West Bengal.
Traffic Police Officer Jagdish stated, “The NH10 has been in a bad condition for a few days now. The vehicular movement is stopped… The restoration work is underway. The railway JCB is also being used… 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 a Lok Sabha session to provide assistance for recurring issues and frequent disruptions on 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 demand for assistance regarding the monsoon situation in Sikkim is the first raised by the Sikkim MP in the Lok Sabha session.
Praising the Centre for developing Sikkim and its roads, which were once narrow, Subba highlighted the importance of NH10, the only 2-lane highway in the state. He urged 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 pointed out that Sikkim is a peaceful and beautiful state with vast tourism potential, attracting many tourists and ministers. He noted that the entire Himalayan region, not just Sikkim, faces ‘typical’ monsoon issues for at least 5-6 months every year, leading to landslides and road disruptions.
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