Sikkim Cut Off from Mainland for 32 Days as NH-10 Hit by Landslides, CM to Raise Issue at NITI Aayog Meet in New Delhi

A high level meeting was held in New Delhi on July 8 with top Union Road ministry officials where a decision was taken to hand over the national highway to

It has been 32 days and the frontier state of Sikkim remains totally cut off from mainland India by road. National Highway 10, the lifeline of the state that borders China, has been hit by landslides and has been shut for over a month now. Traffic movement remains suspended through the national highway.

It needs to be mentioned that on July 8, a high level meeting was held in New Delhi with top Union Road ministry officials where a decision was taken to hand over the national highway to Indian Railway Construction International Limited, IRCON.

As per reports, it has become an almost difficult task to reach Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim by road. The state does not have a rail route yet and the Pakyong airport is almost non functional.

As per reports, it usually takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach Gangtok from Siliguri via the National Highway 10 but now it is takes upto 8-9 hours to reach Gangtok via Lava in Kalimpong district of West Bengal. All traffic to Gangtok has been diverted via Lava.

The status of the national highway and Sikkim staying cut off for over a month now is expected to top Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s agenda today at the CMs’ meet in New Delhi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is present.

The National Highway No.10, has been shut since July 11 at multiple points due to heavy monsoon rains and landslides.

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