Highways shut, Sikkim cut off from rest of India

Sikkim has been completely isolated from the rest of the country as both its primary and alternative road connections have been severed.

The National Highway No. 10, already shut at multiple points due to heavy monsoon rains and landslides, has now been officially closed. Additionally, the alternative route via Algarah road through Gos-khan-line has also been shut down for maintenance by the state Public Works Department.

The closure, announced by authorities in Kalimpong, West Bengal, is scheduled to be in effect from today till July 14.

Meanwhile, locals have raised concerns about the lack of alternative arrangements to maintain connectivity between Sikkim and the rest of the country during this period.

It may be mentioned here that though the Gangtok to Siliguri via Teesta Bazar-Darjeeling road is opened for public, it takes around 10 hours to reach Gangtok from Siliguri.