Restoration of road connectivity to North Sikkim underway: BRO

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has initiated efforts to restore road connectivity to North Sikkim, which has been severely affected by landslides and heavy rainfall. The natural calamities have resulted in the loss of at least six lives, damage to properties, and disruption of essential services such as road connectivity, power, food supplies, and mobile networks in various areas.
Multiple landslides have occurred across various stretches, including Dikchu-Sanklang-Toong, Mangan-Sanklang, Singtham-Rangrang, and Rangrang-Toong.The vital Sanklang suspension bridge has collapsed, further severing connectivity to North Sikkim and leaving around 1,200-1,500 tourists stranded.
"The BRO under Project SWASTIK has swung into restoration efforts by mobilising huge manpower and machinery to restore connectivity to North Sikkim at the earliest," said the BRO in a statement.
Heavy earth-moving equipment has been deployed to clear the Dikchu-Sanklang-Toong Road. Already, 10 km of road has been cleared from the Toong side towards Sanklang, noted the BRO.
Additionally, machinery has been deployed to remove debris on Gangtok Road from the Naga side, successfully restoring connectivity between Naga and Lanthakhola.
Efforts are ongoing to restore access to North Sikkim via a recently constructed modular bridge at Toong.