Gangtok, Jun 24 (PTI): Torrential overnight rains triggered a series of landslides that blocked the Gyalshing–Legship road at multiple places on Wednesday and cut off the battered West Sikkim district headquarters from the rest of the state. Gyalshing recorded a staggering 95.2 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours. Under the impact of the rains, tonnes of sludge and massive boulders came crashing onto the road, bringing traffic to a standstill. District Magistrate Tenzing Denzongpa said they received reports of the landslides around 9 pm on Tuesday. The most severely affected landslide occurred near Omchung, about two kilometres from Gyalshing town, he said.
With the Gyalshing–Legship road blocked, excavators were pressed into service through the night as teams battled challenging conditions to clear the debris. Zilla Panchayat member Sagar Sharma said at least three landslides have struck the highway corridor, including a major slide near Omchung, another below the main slide zone and a third near Legship. “This road witnesses landslides every monsoon. The issue is repeatedly raised during DISHA Monitoring Committee meetings, but permanent restoration and mitigation measures are yet to materialise,” he said.
The Gyalshing-Legship road serves as the district’s primary lifeline, carrying passengers, essential commodities and emergency services. With no viable alternative route available, the blockade has disrupted movement and heightened concerns among residents.
