Landslides, road blockages in various parts of Gangtok District

GANGTOK: Due to incessant rainfall of September 27-28, Gangtok district was severely affected where landslides, road blockages and damages to infrastructure was reported from various parts of the district. Various teams were constituted by Gangtok District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to conduct immediate inspections and provide necessary assistance to the affected.
Under Rabdang subdivision the inspection was carried out by Area MLA Samdup Bhutia & Zilla Adakshya, Gangtok District, Ballaram Adhikari along with SDM Rabdang Roshan Subba, Deputy Director, DDMA/Gangtok, Sonam Wongyal Lepcha, BDO Rakdong Tintek Pushkar Khatiwara and Panchayat Inspector, members.
An intensive inspection of the damage was carried out by the team and necessary direction was given to concerned agencies, especially to GREF whose road widening work has triggered numerous landslides and caused damages to many households and landed property of the villagers at Raley, kokoley, Tumin & 9th Mile, a press release informs.
Four families were evacuated and shifted to a safer location of their choice.
During the inspection, the Area MLA directed the GREF officials to immediately erect protective measures wherever necessary and pose threat to households above and below the road. He also directed them to increase the manpower, in order to complete the work of retaining wall at critical area within the stipulated times and suggested them to do the widening work in phase-wise instead of excavating the road everywhere at one go.
Since the Singtam-Dikchu highway is the main road to North Sikkim, it should be repaired and restored as early as possible.
It was clarified that the damages caused by the road widening work should entirely be held responsible by the GREF agency, be it damage compensation or shifting charge /room rent for the evacuated families, the release mentions.
Further, the villagers were also explained about the “4 phase instalment” pertaining to land acquisition for the road widening process by the SDM Rabdang. The affected families of landslides were provided tarpaulins and polypipes as immediate measures and the same was handed over by the Area MLA.
Similarly, an inspection of damages was carried out by a team led by SDM Gangtok Mahendra Chettri and Bijayata Kharel, Training Officer/DM at Smart Bazar, Sisagolai below the house of Ugen Gyatso Ladingpa.
The two-storied building of Ladingpa is under threat. As an immediate measure, the slide has been completely covered with tarpaulins. Further, the residents and tenants of the house have been evacuated. Direction has been given to the Smart Bazar to channelise the water with the help of pipelines and divert the water to the nearby Jhora.
The landslide is sliding towards the Indira bypass near SDF Bhawan. 2 families have been evacuated.
A portion of property which housed Gumpa belonging to Prince Palden at Kazi Road has been completely damaged by the heavy rainfall of September 28. Damages were covered by tarpaulins and necessary restoration works have been suggested.
The footpath leading to Sai School at Sichey has been completely damaged and the LT pole is in severe threat.
Damages caused at 2nd Mile, Chandmari, Kopi Bari were inspected by a team led by Area MLA Tenzing Norbu Lamtha along with BDO Nandok TT Gensapa, concerned Revenue Inspector Dawa Tamang & Disaster Management Team from DDMA/Gangtok, the release mentions.