The National Highway 10 (NH 10), crucially linking the plains with the North Bengal Hills and Sikkim, is set to remain closed for at least another week following severe damage caused by landslides, as confirmed by the Kalimpong district administration on Sunday.
The highway has been inaccessible for the past 10 days, compelling authorities to divert traffic bound for Siliguri via alternate routes such as Panbu, Lava, and Gorubathan. Similarly, vehicles from Sikkim are redirected through the Lava route via Munsung in Kalimpong. Previously, the journey between Siliguri and Kalimpong via NH 10 typically spanned around two-and-a-half hours. However, due to the current diversions, this travel time has extended to approximately five hours, highlighting the inconvenience caused to commuters and logistics. “With ongoing repairs at various affected sites, including the critical road bench collapse at Selfie Point (19th Mile), traffic on NH 10 remains suspended,” stated a local official. “We anticipate requiring an additional six to seven days to fully restore traffic flow along this vital corridor.”
The closure of NH 10 comes amidst expectations of continued rainfall over the next two months, further complicating recovery efforts and maintenance tasks along the affected stretches. The administration remains focused on expediting repairs to minimize disruption and restore normalcy as swiftly as possible. This situation underscores the logistical challenges posed by natural disasters during the monsoon season, necessitating strategic planning and swift execution of repair and restoration measures. As authorities work diligently to address the aftermath of the landslides, commuters are urged to remain patient and adhere to alternative routes until NH 10 is declared safe and fully operational. The prolonged closure of NH 10 serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to environmental hazards and the critical need for robust infrastructure maintenance to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and safety for all travelers.
