NH10 Closed Due To Fresh Landslides Triggered By Heavy Rains In North Bengal
As a result of the incessant rain, the National Highway 10 (NH10), which forms the lifeline of Kalimpong district in north Bengal and the neighboring state Sikkim has been closed.
New Delhi: In a significant development impacting the tourism and livelihood of West Bengal and Sikkim, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy to very heavy rains over the next five days. As a result of the incessant rain, the National Highway 10 (NH10), which forms the lifeline of Kalimpong district in north Bengal and the neighboring state Sikkim has been closed.
“While landslides are damaging the roads from the top, the River Teesta is eating away the land below, making it more challenging to repair the damaged highway in some portions. NH10 was badly hit by the flash flood, which took place in October 2023 in Sikkim. Several landslides were reported earlier this month too when the area was battered by heavy rains,” said a senior official of Kalimpong.
“We are reaching out to the affected villagers by transshipment and the Army is working to construct Bailey bridges and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has engaged more than 200 personnel to reach out to the villages with essential commodities. The state government is trying its best to open the road communication at the earliest,” said Nar Bahadur Dahal, road and bridges minister in Sikkim.
National Capital To Receive Heavy Rainfall
Delhi is likely to receive heavy rainfall for the next three days as the weather office issued an ‘orange’ alert in the national capital on Saturday, the weather office said.
Parts of Delhi, including Rohini and Burari, received rains on Saturday morning. According to the Met department, 8.9 mm of rainfall was recorded at Safdarjung, the city’s primary weather station, and 12.6 mm at Lodhi Road between 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm on Saturday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted moderate to heavy rainfall on Saturday, with an even heavier spell anticipated on Sunday and Monday, the weather department said. For the next seven days, the capital will experience moderate to heavy rain, and an ‘orange alert’ has been issued for the next three days, the IMD said in its seven-day forecast.
According to the IMD, moderate rain is defined as rainfall amounting to between 7.6 and 35.5 mm in a day, and heavy rain is defined as rainfall amounting to between 64.5 and 124.4 mm in a day.
The IMD issues four colour-coded warnings — “green” (no action needed), “yellow” (watch and stay updated), “orange” (be prepared) and “red” (take action). The maximum temperature recorded on Saturday was 35.6 degrees Celsius, which is 1.6 notches below normal, according to the IMD. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius.
(With inputs from agencies)
What's Your Reaction?
