Northeast Desk, 17th June: A major landslide has severed the road connecting Mangan district with other regions of Sikkim, disrupting transportation and isolating Mangan from neighboring districts. The incident, which highlights the area’s vulnerability to natural disasters, has prompted local authorities to assess the damage and mobilize resources to restore connectivity as soon as possible.
In response to the crisis, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has launched a massive restoration effort to re-establish connectivity to North Sikkim, which has been severely affected by incessant rains since June 11. Multiple roads leading to North Sikkim, including Dikchu-Sanklang-Toong, Mangan-Sanklang, Singtham-Rangrang, and Rangrang-Toong, were hit by numerous landslides and formation breaches due to the unprecedented heavy rains. The situation was exacerbated by the collapse of a newly constructed suspension bridge at Sanklang, the primary link to North Sikkim and the Dzongu region.
As a result, approximately 1,200-1,500 tourists were stranded in North Sikkim due to the blockage of roads at multiple locations. The BRO promptly deployed heavy machinery and hundreds of laborers to clear the landslides along various routes. They have cleared multiple slides along the Sanklang-Toong road, making it traffic-worthy for light vehicles. Additionally, the road stretch between Naga and Lanthakhola on the Mangan-Chungthang road has been cleared for traffic.
Efforts continue to restore full connectivity and ensure the safe passage of all stranded individuals.