Gangtok:
Sikkim Relief Commissioner S B S Bahaduria on Tuesday said relief and rehabilitation work is underway in North Sikkim district which was hit by landslides and flash floods on September 21. He also said that most of the roads that were blocked by landslides would also be opened this month.
Speaking to PTI, Mr Bahaduria, who is also the Secretary of the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, said hundreds of tonnes of essential commodities and food items have been dispatched and stored in different areas across North Sikkim including Mangan, Chungthang, Lachung and Lachen.
The Relief Commissioner added that with the weather holding up over the past few days, more required relief material could be sent to the affected areas if a need arose in the coming days.
At present, with the Mangan to Chungthang and Chungthang to Lachung road still blocked, the BRO has also set up the provision of a ropeway across Lanthey Khola, (where around 500 meters of road was destroyed and a new road is being constructed) which is facilitating shipment of man and material.
The Chungthang to Lachen road is open at the moment.
"The roads have always been a problem up North, however, the BRO has assured that the Mangan- Chungthang road will be opened for vehicular traffic between October 15 to 20 and the Chungthang-Lachung road by October 15. We are being very careful that there is no problem for the local people in the affected areas and the District Collector and the SDM's office are doing a good job and coordinating well with all relief operations," he stated.