Gangtok, July 16: Incessant rain over the past few days have wreaked havoc in Sikkim, triggering landslides and blocking roads in several parts of the state. Landslips have paralysed communication in many areas of east and north Sikkim. However, no casualty was reported.

The slush and debris blocked National Highway 31A for several hours at 20 Mile between Singtam and Rangpo this morning as vehicles remained stranded on either side of the highway. Drivers of small vehicles had a harrowing time crossing the stretch. The road was, however, cleared by 11am and vehicles were allowed to ply.

“This morning, drivers found it difficult to cross the area but after we pressed into service a JCV to clear the mud, vehicles were allowed to ply,” assistant executive engineer of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) A.K. Singh said.

Landslides have also cut off Singtam Dikchu Road in east Sikkim. Chungthang, the subdivisional town in north Sikkim, remained cut off between Mangan and Chungthang.

In Gangtok, 25 families have been evacuated in the past few days from Upper Chandmari just below Ganesh Tok which is a tourist spot. The shrine at Ganesh Tok also faces the danger of being washed away.

The families have been moved to relief camps set up at panchayat office complex, Enchey School premises and the Doordarshan complex in Chandmari.

The district administration has been providing relief to the affected families.

A portion of the road at Indira Bypass between Manbir Colony and the civil helipad at Lower Sichey has caved in. Nearly 100-metre stretch of the road is inundated and it might take days to repair it.

The bypass still remains closed as the rubble at the starting point of Amdo Golai at Tadong is yet to be cleared. The road has remained closed for a month now.

Residents of a house located on Indira Bypass had to be evacuated last month after a landslide left it perched atop a hill dangerously.

Landslides pose threat to several houses atop this slide.

The BRO official said they would clear the bypass within the next few days to ease traffic movement.

“We have already cleared rocks and boulders to ensure safety of the people in the neighbourhood. We do not want to put anybody’s life at risk. The clearance of the road is being given top priority,” Singh said.

He said the BRO was trying to find remedial measures to repair the road which has been inundated by the rain between Manbir Colony and the civil helipad at Lower Sichey.

The bypass is used to divert heavy vehicles away from the capital. The army vehicles and the BRO vehicles also use this road while heading for defence areas located in north and east district border areas.