Heavy and uninterrupted rainfall across Sikkim and the northern Bengal hills pushed the Teesta river to alarming levels on Tuesday, submerging sections of NH10 and triggering landslides that paralysed connectivity to the hill districts.
The rising Teesta, fed by overnight rain in the upper reaches of Sikkim, spilled onto the national highway at Rabijhora and 29th Mile, both vulnerable stretches near Teesta Bazar. As a precautionary measure, vehicular movement was temporarily suspended.
“As the river was flowing at the same level as the road, vehicles stopped plying. There was also a steady current, which was why no vehicle was allowed to move,” said a Kalimpong district administration official.
Simultaneously, traffic came to a standstill on Peshok Road, a crucial link between Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Though water levels began receding from noon, a fresh landslide at Tarkhola near Teesta Bazar around 9am compounded the crisis. Earthmovers managed to clear the debris by 4pm, allowing partial restoration of movement.
Also read: Rains strand 1,500 tourists in Sikkim, 8 still missing in Teesta
Authorities issued public alerts on Monday evening in Rangpo, Teesta Bazar and Melli, urging residents along the riverbanks to remain vigilant. In Jalpaiguri’s Kranti and Malbazar blocks, where embankment protection is minimal, around 500 homes were inundated. Evacuations were swiftly carried out.
“A red (secondary) alert has been issued in unprotected areas on both banks of the river from Domohomi to Mekhliganj,” said Krishnendu Bhowmik, chief engineer (northeast) of the state irrigation department. “The water levels rose as additional water was released from the barrage after rainfall in the upstream. We hope the water level will gradually recede.”
Landslides were also reported across several locations near Gangtok. Debris-clearing operations are ongoing, authorities confirmed.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded substantial rainfall across Sikkim in the 24 hours up to 8.30am Tuesday — 123mm in Gangtok, 116mm in Mangan, 120mm in Pakyong and 155mm in Namthan.
“There is a forecast of very heavy to heavy rain in Sikkim and in the Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts of Bengal during the next 48 hours,” warned an IMD weather expert. “People should be on alert as the rainfall can swell rivers and streams and trigger landslides.”
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