Deep Gazmer, TNN | Jun 19, 2011, 01.13am IST
DARJEELING: The Hills was cut off for a couple of hours from the rest of the country due to landslides at various places in Kurseong subdivision though there were no reports of loss of life or damage to properties.
Incessant overnight rainfall continued through Saturday morning, barring a few hours of break. On Friday night, landslides hit the Pankhabari and Rohini routes in Kurseong, halting vehicular movement. Electricity poles and trees were uprooted at various places due to the high wind blocking roads. However, the roads were cleared on Saturday for vehicular movement.
"Vehicular movement via Pankhabari and Rohini in Kurseong were disrupted because of landslides and trees uprooted from last night's rain. But that has been cleared today," said Mohan Gandhi, Darjeeling DM. The Kurseong SDO asked schools to remain closed on Saturday because of the high wind and incessant rainfall.
"Monsoon has made its advent in North Bengal. Therefore continuous rainfall can be expected," said Subir Sarkar, in-charge of the weather station at the North Bengal University (NBU) in Siliguri.
National Highway 31A, the arterial link to Sikkim, remained cut off on Saturday because of a 20-metre stretch giving way near Rambhi. Efforts are on to restore vehicular movement. All transport movement to the Himalayan state has been diverted via Kurseong.
NH-55, the main link connecting Darjeeling, is also out of service because of a landslide at Ghayabari on 14th Mile in Kurseong. In fact, NH-55 has been out of bounds to vehicle movement since June 14 last year. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) service to and from Darjeeling to Siliguri has also been suspended. Vehicular movement from the Mungpo-Sevoke route has also been suspended due to landslide at 27th Mile and Sethe Khola.
Because of the restoration work at Rohini and Pankhabari, all transport services were diverted through the Mirik route. However, given the nature of rainfall over the last two days, there is apprehension of the Mirik route also being affected. "We are on a state of high alert. We are coordinating with officials of the other sub-divisions at an hourly basis," said a district administration official.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Landslides-cut-off-Hills-for-two-hours/articleshow/8907428.cms
DARJEELING: The Hills was cut off for a couple of hours from the rest of the country due to landslides at various places in Kurseong subdivision though there were no reports of loss of life or damage to properties.
Incessant overnight rainfall continued through Saturday morning, barring a few hours of break. On Friday night, landslides hit the Pankhabari and Rohini routes in Kurseong, halting vehicular movement. Electricity poles and trees were uprooted at various places due to the high wind blocking roads. However, the roads were cleared on Saturday for vehicular movement.
"Vehicular movement via Pankhabari and Rohini in Kurseong were disrupted because of landslides and trees uprooted from last night's rain. But that has been cleared today," said Mohan Gandhi, Darjeeling DM. The Kurseong SDO asked schools to remain closed on Saturday because of the high wind and incessant rainfall.
"Monsoon has made its advent in North Bengal. Therefore continuous rainfall can be expected," said Subir Sarkar, in-charge of the weather station at the North Bengal University (NBU) in Siliguri.
National Highway 31A, the arterial link to Sikkim, remained cut off on Saturday because of a 20-metre stretch giving way near Rambhi. Efforts are on to restore vehicular movement. All transport movement to the Himalayan state has been diverted via Kurseong.
NH-55, the main link connecting Darjeeling, is also out of service because of a landslide at Ghayabari on 14th Mile in Kurseong. In fact, NH-55 has been out of bounds to vehicle movement since June 14 last year. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) service to and from Darjeeling to Siliguri has also been suspended. Vehicular movement from the Mungpo-Sevoke route has also been suspended due to landslide at 27th Mile and Sethe Khola.
Because of the restoration work at Rohini and Pankhabari, all transport services were diverted through the Mirik route. However, given the nature of rainfall over the last two days, there is apprehension of the Mirik route also being affected. "We are on a state of high alert. We are coordinating with officials of the other sub-divisions at an hourly basis," said a district administration official.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Landslides-cut-off-Hills-for-two-hours/articleshow/8907428.cms