Landslides damage houses; roads blocked

NAMCHI, June 13: The heavy downpour of last night caused wide-spread damages in several parts of South District.

In Namchi, a two-storied wooden house of BK Pradhan, at Mandir Daragoan, above Namchi Bazaar suffered extensive damages due to a mudslide.

The incident took place at around 4.30 am in the morning when one of the family members was woken up by a loud rumbling sound. Before the family could react, the side of the house was covered in mud. The mudslide, which brought with it garbage and debris, damaged the store room situated behind the house. The mud and debris damaged the walls and entered the house burying four LPG cylinders, two gas stoves and all other kitchen items, including sacks of rice. Three rooms on the ground floor of the house were damaged by the slide. However, no one was injured.

Incidentally, this is the fourth time that a similar incident has taken place in the same house. This latest incident is the second major incident that has taken place there. In 2003, the first major incident had taken place during which a mudslide had damaged portions of the house.

Another incident of landslide following incessant rains was reported from Ravangla, where the house of one Suresh Darjee, situated at the Lal Bazaar area, was severely damaged which was immediately evacuated. Two pigs belonging to Darjee that were buried in the landslide were compensated with Rs 1,200 from Calamity Relief Fund by the SDM Ravangla.

The affected sites around Namchi were inspected by officials from UD&HD, additional District Collocter, South Yasodha Bhandari, and Pempa Norbu, DPO.

The rainfall also triggered road blocks between Namchi and Rangpo at Phongla. The road from Namchi to Gangtok was blocked at Damthang. Another road from Namchi to Wok was blocked at Tingrithang and the road from Namchi to Jorethang was also obstructed at Chisopani. With restoration works in full swing, some roads blocks were cleared by today evening.