New Delhi: An analysis carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) shows massive damage to road infrastructure following devastating rains in Sikkim.
During the intervening night of May 30–31, a cloudburst struck North Sikkim, causing the Teesta River’s water level to surge by 35–40 feet. The region suffered extensive damage at multiple locations, and communication with North Sikkim remains disrupted.
According to BRO, on Gangtok-Chungthnag Road, major landslides have occurred. The Pegong Nala has also been severely damaged, and surfacing work has also been destroyed along both side approaches. The Chungthang-Lachen Road and Lachen-Kalep Road have also been badly affected, with some portions washed away by the torrential rains.
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There have been landslides on Lachung-Zadong Road and Chungthang-Lachung Road as well. Lachung river has also changed course towards F/bk side. Sanklang-Toong Road has also seen partial breaches. There were multiple landslides too and severe damage to surface.
The Dikchu-Sanklang Road has suffered heavy impact as well. On Gangtok-Chungthang Road, landslide has been reported at Rafankhola and Lanthakhola.
On Monday, the BRO restored road connectivity to Lachung in Sikkim’s Mangan district, and evacuated hundreds of stranded tourists. BRO teams cleared landslides, rebuilt damaged road sections, and repaired a critical breach near the suspension bridge at Phidang to restore one-way vehicular access to Lachung. This opened the route for evacuating stranded tourists via the Lachung–Chungthang–Shipgyere–Sanklang–Dikchu road.
Two vital Bailey bridges along the Lachen axis — one at Minsithang and another at Zeema — were washed away, cutting off Lachen town from both the north and south sides. Following heavy current in river Teesta, the earth near the bailey suspension bridge at Phidang also got washed away.
