Portion of NH10 at Siliguri washes off in Teesta river

A critical portion of National Highway-10 at Siliguri 29th Mile has been washed away into the Teesta River, leading to renewed uncertainty over its reopening. The highway has already been closed until August 15 due to heavy rains and erosion, but fresh damage has raised concerns about whether traffic will be able to resume even after the deadline.

The latest incident occurred on Wednesday at the 29-Mile mark, where a large section of the national highway collapsed and was swallowed by the river. This follows a period of intense rainfall in the region, which is believed to be the primary cause of the sudden erosion and road collapse.

Efforts to repair the damage and reconstruct the road will be a monumental task. The report indicates that engineers will have to cut into the mountainside again to build a new road. This complex and time-consuming work is expected to take several days, casting serious doubt on the possibility of the road reopening by the night of Independence Day.

The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) had already announced a temporary closure of the highway. Due to a landslide in Likuveer, the road was initially closed from 8 PM on Tuesday until 6 PM on August 15. The new collapse at 29-Mile now adds another layer of complexity to the repair and reopening timeline.

The continuous closure of NH-10 is causing significant disruption for travelers and freight traffic in the region, as it is a major lifeline. The unpredictable nature of the weather and the geological challenges of the terrain are making it difficult for authorities to provide a definitive timeline for when the highway will be fully operational again.