IN PHOTOS: NH-10 closed for a month in Gangtok after road caves in at Seesa Golai

Gangtok: The Sikkim government has barred movement of all vehicles from Deorali point to Titanic point on NH-10 in capital Gangtok after a portion of the road (about 40 metres) at Seesa Golai caved in on Tuesday morning.

Even though the landslide occurred on the valley side, at least five to six buildings on the hill side could get affected if the road caves in further, said reports.

The state’s roads and bridges department has claimed that both the road and its foundation are old. But noticeably there have been newer constructions on the valley side over the past few years, which may have weakened the foundation, it said.

Roads chief engineer KC Sharma said: “There is a need for an immediate restoration. A new protection wall will come up in the lower side of the hill where the landslide occurred. We don’t want to put a blame on the private construction down below but we will construct the road. The reason could also be the increased volume of traffic on the road.”

The disaster management team along with officials of the district administration have surveyed the landslide.

Meanwhile, legislator GT Dhungel said, “This is in a precarious state and is sinking. With the monsoon around, there is a chance of it falling again. The reason seems to be the construction on the valley side. The base might have been excavated or water seepage and some tremors of earthquake last month could be the reason.”