North Sikkim hit by heavy rains and landslides, Teesta is gushing, administration alert due to danger of Harpa Ban in Dooars. Sourced from Uttam Deb’s Nagarik Newz , Translated by Coolmantra Admin
North Sikkim has been hit by heavy rains at the beginning of the monsoon season. The Mangan district was the worst affected by the collapse, with Chungthang, Lachung, and Lachen also facing difficulties. Scattered rain has been reported in Mangan, with a few villages being washed away and several houses buried. Due to the road collapse, communication with a part of Mangan has been disrupted. Casualties have not yet been officially confirmed, but there are reports of one person dead and five missing in Harpa Ban, Mangan.
In October of last year, during the previous monsoon season, a significant area of Sikkim was washed away by landslides and the collapse of Harpa Bane. Sikkim was isolated from the rest of the country due to the national highway collapse, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives, including army personnel and tourists. Many tourists were stranded, and over 22 thousand people lost their homes. The heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides in Teesta on Wednesday serve as a reminder of the devastating events from last October.
The Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall in Sikkim for Thursday as well. The administration has already initiated rescue operations in the affected areas, evacuating people from dangerous locations to safer places. The army and disaster response forces have been deployed to assist the local administration in relief and rescue operations in Mangan.
The West Bengal government has also been alerted to the situation in North Sikkim, including the news of Harpa Ban and the collapses. Additionally, in the Teesta market area of Kalimpong, the Teesta River has risen significantly, leading to the closure of the Darjeeling-Kalimpong road to traffic. The floods in North Sikkim have also caused water levels to rise in rivers in the Duars region. The Jalpaiguri district administration is closely monitoring the situation.
