Heavy rain in Darjeeling hills damages National Highway 10, delinks Sikkim and Bengal

Siliguri: Heavy rain in the Darjeeling hills caused landslides, damaging a stretch of the National Highway-10 connecting West Bengal with Sikkim, an official said on Thursday.

"A portion of the road caved in due to landslip on the National Highway 10 at Bhuichaley near Birikdhara area, which is midway between Teesta bridge and Coronation (bridge).

"Officials from the state Public Works Department inspected the spot and repair work will be taken up," said Darjeeling District Magistrate Anurag Srivastava. 

PWD officials also cleared landslip debris from five other spots on the national highway, he said.

Many tourists were stranded in Darjeeling and Sikkim. 

North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb said that the tourists were safe and alternative arrangements were being made for movement of traffic. 

"Repair work is on where landslides have occurred. Meanwhile, all vehicles are being diverted to other routes till the time all roads are repaired. All tourists are safe," said Deb.

Heavy rain also disrupted flights from Bagdogra airport. 

"Due to heavy rain and poor visibility at Bagdogra, seven of the 15 flights were cancelled on Thursday," said Rakesh Sahay, Bagdogra Airport Director.