3 injured in Sikkim landslides

Gangtok, July 15: Three persons were injured and 30 houses damaged in multiple landslides across West Sikkim this morning.

At Soreng, three members of a family were injured and their house was damaged in a landslide that occurred around 6.30am. The injured were, Pabitra Subba, 35, her sister Deepika, 18, and son Aditya, 10. Pabitra and Deepika have suffered have been been referred to Gangtok hospital.

The first mudslide occurred around 4.30am at Labing Gerathang, 10km from Tashiding. “Sixteen houses have been partially damaged in the landslide. As a precautionary measure, 26 families have been shifted to a nearby ICDS centre and schools,” district collectorate (West) Shanta Pradhan said over phone.

Three houses were damaged at Khechoepalri when boulders hit the structures.

“Four families in Arithang whose houses are near Tashiding river have been shifted to a nearby school as the river has swollen up,” said Pradhan.

He added that almost 30 houses have been damaged in mudslides across the district.

A landslide hit Jawaharlal Nehru Marg that leads to Nathu-la at 17th Mile last evening.

“The landslide occurred at 7.30pm and 700 metre of the road has been filled with debris. The restoration work is in full swing and the road will be opened for light vehicles by Tuesday,” said the Border Roads Organisation’s chief engineer Rajiv Sawhney.