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A massive landslide has struck Bhoteybhir,  Darjeeling side near Rangpo.

As warned earlier by many experts that post the earthquake there would be a large possibility of landslides in the Northeast An unspecified number of people are feared either dead or buried after a large piece of rock, estimated to measure about 150 metres, broke off a hillock and crashed down on a stretch of the national highway connecting Sikkim with Bengal.

Recently an earthquake of the magnitude of 6.7 had hit the region and many experts feel that due to this the soil may have loosened in many hilly areas thereby creating a possibility of landslides.

While filing of this report one truck driver was dead and three people injured while it is suspected that three to four people are still buried under the debris.

The highway which connects Sikkim to the rest of the country is now blocked .It maybe mentioned that all movement of tourists, military and government and private vehicles will be affected  com if this highway remains blocked. Sikkim has no airport or rail connectivity, thereby cutting it off.
Massive Landslide Near ‪Rangpo‬ Sikkim
Massive Landslide Near ‪Rangpo‬ Sikkim
But there are many people who are also blaming that unscientific methods used by the BRO for widening of the highway and suspect that this could be  one of the reason there have been frequent landslides in the area.

‘Come monsoon and you will see a lot more landslides because Border Roads Organisation, is widening the roads in the area and and are using explosives  to carry out for construction ‘ says Sonam Wangmo , one of the residents of the area.

It was not possible to find out  how many vehicles or people might be buried under the landslide which took place at Bhotebhir on NH10, about 1 km from Rangpo which marks the Bengal-Sikkim border. It is 75 km from Siliguri in West Bengal.

Source: thenortheasttoday



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