GANGTOK—Heavy monsoon rains triggered landslides and disrupted transport links across Sikkim on Tuesday, with authorities working to restore road connectivity as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that wet weather would continue across the Himalayan state.
Continuous rainfall over recent days caused slope failures at multiple locations, damaging roads and interrupting traffic on key routes within the state and along approaches linking Sikkim with neighboring West Bengal, according to state officials and local authorities. Restoration teams were deployed to remove debris and reopen affected stretches where conditions permitted.
The IMD maintained heavy rainfall warnings for Sikkim as an active southwest monsoon continued to affect the eastern Himalayan region. Forecasts issued by the weather agency warned of heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning, with localized risks of landslides, flash floods and disruptions to transport in vulnerable mountainous areas.
State authorities urged residents and travelers to avoid unnecessary movement in landslide-prone areas and to follow advisories issued by district administrations and disaster management agencies. Officials said road-clearing operations would continue where weather conditions allowed, while teams monitored unstable slopes for further movement.
Recent rainfall also affected road infrastructure in parts of East Sikkim, where sections of roadway were washed away and several buildings sustained structural damage. Temporary relief arrangements were identified for families living in unsafe homes, although officials reported no casualties in those incidents.
The heavy rain also affected regional connectivity beyond Sikkim. Earlier this month, landslides and rising river levels disrupted traffic on National Highway-10, the principal route connecting Sikkim with Siliguri in West Bengal, while authorities temporarily closed several roads until debris was cleared and water levels receded.
Sikkim regularly experiences landslides during the June-to-September monsoon season because of its steep terrain and intense rainfall. The IMD said the state had already recorded above-normal monsoon rainfall earlier this season, increasing the likelihood of weather-related disruptions in susceptible areas.
Authorities said they would continue monitoring rainfall and slope conditions closely as the IMD forecast further heavy precipitation over parts of the eastern Himalayan region in the coming days, advising the public to remain alert to official weather and travel updates.
