Tarkhola landslide disrupt NH 10

DARJEELING, : Traffic movement between Sikkim and Siliguri was severely disrupted for several hours on Saturday due to a landslide at Tarkhola, located between Melli and Rangpo on the West Bengal–Sikkim border. The route was restored for single-lane traffic by around 2:30 pm.

The landslide at Tarkhola occurred around 9:30 am, with debris and boulders falling from the hillside and a section of the highway collapsing into the Teesta River.

Meanwhile, National Highway 717A, recently constructed to improve connectivity, was also affected by a separate landslide near Katarey in the afternoon. Continuous falling of debris and boulders has made clearance efforts challenging, and the highway remains closed.

NH 717A connects Bagrakote in West Bengal to Sikkim via Kalimpong. Authorities have indicated that the route is likely to remain closed for the rest of the day due to ongoing safety concerns.