October is considered to be a peak season for travelling to Darjeeling and Sikkim, as hundreds of tourists from West Bengal and neighbouring states throng to the state during festive season. However, as per the media report, heavy rainfall and landslides in multiple parts of Sikkim and North Bengal have left hundreds of tourists stranded. They are facing difficulties in travelling to their next destination or reaching railway stations or the Bagdogra airport to return home.
It is advised that if you were planning to visit, avoid it till the situation gets better, and keep an eye out for news.
Here are the details and some of the helpline numbers in case you or anyone you know are stranded:
The situation in Sikkim
Due to the landslide, National Highway-10, the main road linking Sikkim capital Gangtok with the rest of the country, has been blocked. There have been isolated incidents of boulders falling also. Also, at 20th Mile near Rangpo, a landslide has been reported resulting in people taking alternative routes to reach Gangtok. Supporting pillars of a steel bridge at Rangpo, the gateway to Sikkim, got damaged due to heavy flow of water in the Teesta River which has been in a spate over the past few days. As per the news, the authorities have started restricting the movement of vehicles on the bridge.
The situation in the northern part of West Bengal
As per news, a landslide occurred at Mahanadi Area in Darjeeling, due to which major arterial road connecting Kurseong with Sukna has been blocked. Road connectivity in several places of Kalimpong district, linking Kalimpong town with several hamlets such as Pedong, Lava, and Algara, was snapped due to landslides. The administration has issued an advisory saying the only route which seems to be motorable was via Ghoom and Kurseong.
The Balason river, which flows down the hills and cuts across the NH-31 at Matigara, has damaged one of the pillars of the 50-year-old bridge that connects the city with Bagdogra Airport. Police are allowing only two-wheelers and pedestrians to cross the bridge. Several low-lying areas in the Jalpaiguri district have been flooded owing to a rise in the water level of the Teesta and Jaldhaka rivers.
Helpline numbers for Darjeeling
Darjeeling police have given the helpline numbers
Control room -03542252057, 9083270435
Darjeeling -9083270413, 9083270405
Kurseong – 9083270415, 9083270411
Rural (Naxalbari, Khoribari, Phansidewa) – 9083270410, 9083270407.
Advice for the tourists
In this situation, if you are in North Bengal or Sikkim, don’t panic. The government and the team of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) are trying their best to normalise the situation. If you have a plan to travel these areas within this week or next week, better to postpone. However, from today morning, the situation is getting better as the torrential rain has been stopped. Hope the hills of Sikkim and North Bengal will be in normal condition very quickly.
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