Sikkim, Darjeeling cut off after multiple landslides

Incessant rain has triggered multiple landslides in the Northeastern state of Sikkim and West Bengal’s Darjeeling, snapping road connectivity at several places, officials said on Friday.

Officials said that landslides had occurred at Dzongu, Mangan, Lachen and Mangshilla in North District and at two places near Sevoke, around 22 kms from Siliguri city.

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“The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has arranged for small cars to pass through the 29th Mile and 10th Mile areas but large vehicles have been barred,” the officials said.

Mangan, which houses the headquarters of North Sikkim district, had been cut off from the capital city of Gangtok following a landslide at Ambithang, while the road link connecting Mangan and Chungthang had also been snapped after a bridge was washed off at Rafong Khola.

#WATCH: A bridge collapses in Sikkim's Mangan following heavy rainfall in the area, earlier today. This bridge connects Mangan with Gangtok. pic.twitter.com/FUy6i6l8Vs

— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2018

The entire upper Dzongu area had also been cut off due to landslides near Mantam lake and around 50 houses had been affected by the rains and widespread landslides.

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Earlier in the day, District Collector Karma R Bonpo along with the sub-divisional magistrates of Mangan and Dzongu, senior police and transport officials made a survey of the affected areas in Mangan, Mangshilla, Dzongu to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, schools in North District had been directed to remain closed on Saturday.

(With PTI inputs)