Landslide snaps Siliguri-Sikkim highway link

Calcutta News.Net
Wednesday 20th July, 2011

The road link between Siliguri and Sikkim was snapped for about six hours Wednesday after heavy overnight rains triggered a landslide on National Highway 31A in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, police said.

Hundreds of vehicles remained stalled for six hours following the landslide, which resulted in a 20-foot wide crater on the highway, considered the lifeline to Sikkim.

'Around 500 vehicles were stranded on both sides. However, a few vehicles took other longer routes,' said a police officer.

The General Reserve Engineer Force personnel managed to repair the road after a six-hour effort.

'The road was opened at 1.40 p.m.,' said the officer.

National Highway 31A runs along the banks of the Teesta river linking the Sikkim capital Gangtok with Sevoke, near Siliguri, on National Highway 31.

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