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Over 1,200 tourists, including 15 foreigners, are stranded in Mangan district, Sikkim, due to massive landslides triggered by continuous heavy rainfalls, an official reported on Friday. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang held a meeting in Mintokgang to assess the situation and plan the rescue efforts.
The Principal Secretary of the Sikkim Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, C S Rao, stated that the Chief Secretary's office has started arrangements to airlift the stranded tourists. Among the 1,200 stranded tourists, there are 10 from Bangladesh, three from Nepal, and two from Thailand, all located in Lachung village, which is about 50 kilometers from Mangan town.
Rao assured the public that all stranded tourists are safe and urged locals to stay cautious. He also confirmed that there is enough food and supplies to cater to the needs of the tourists. Lachung is currently the only area cut off, while the rest of Sikkim remains open and safe for travel.
Chief Secretary VB Pathak has initiated discussions with the Central Government to arrange for airlifting the tourists if weather conditions are favorable. If airlifting is not possible, tourists will be evacuated by road, though it might take up to a week to restore road connectivity.
The landslides have severely affected areas like Pakshep and Ambhithang in Mangan District, resulting in six casualties and several injuries. A relief camp has been set up in Pakshep, and the state has announced relief for the families of the victims. Pathak confirmed that the Mangan District Administration is working to distribute relief funds quickly.
Pathak also assured that there is no threat to the glacial lakes in the region. The National Disaster Management Authority is closely monitoring over 15 glacial lakes in Sikkim. The National Remote Sensing Centre and CDAC are collaborating with the state's Science and Technology Department to share vital data, ensuring that there is no potential threat of a glacial lake outburst flood during the monsoon season.
The damages have mostly been reported near Mangan, not from Lachen, Lachung, or Chungthang. In Dzongu's Sankalang village, a newly built bailey suspension bridge has been damaged by the rising river levels. Pathak assured that connectivity to Dzongu will be restored through Dikchu town in the next few days. He emphasized the importance of reopening the damaged National Highway on the Bengal side as soon as possible and mentioned that talks are ongoing with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
This new link road will consist of a one-kilometer, three-lane stretch constructed by the Hyderabad Road Development Corporation (HRDCL) and a two-kilometer, two-lane existing road widened by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) projects wing. The project is expected to significantly reduce travel distance from Amberpet to Uppal from approximately eight kilometers to just 3.5 kilometers. It is anticipated that the link road will be completed and open to the public by August 2024.
This development is expected to provide a more convenient and efficient transportation network for the city, alleviating traffic congestion in key areas.
Residents of Hyderabad are eagerly awaiting the completion of a new link road along the Musi River, which promises to transform the city's commuting landscape. Expected to be ready by August, this road will connect the neighborhoods of Amberpet and Uppal, as well as Ramanthapur, providing a much-needed alternative route.
Once inaugurated, this new road will prove to be a game-changer for thousands of commuters traveling from the Moosarambagh-Malakpet side towards Uppal, Ramanthapur, and surrounding areas. K. Arvind Rao, a resident near the Moosarambagh RTO office, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "At present, we use the main road to reach Uppal from Amberpet, which is often crowded and plagued by traffic snarls at multiple junctions. The new road will make the commute hassle-free and save us valuable time."
According to a GHMC official, the HRDCL will be responsible for developing one kilometer of the new three-lane road, while the GHMC's projects wing will be widening a two-kilometer, two-lane stretch. "Only 0.5 kilometers of road widening is left, and utility shifting is currently underway," the official added.
According to a report by the Deccan Chronicle, the road, which starts near Ali Café in Amberpet, will reduce the current eight-kilometer journey from Amberpet to Uppal to just 3.5 kilometers. This ambitious project is a collaborative effort between the Hyderabad Road Development Corporation (HRDCL) and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
As the countdown begins for the road's completion, residents eagerly anticipate the convenience and time-saving benefits this new Musi River link road will bring to their daily commutes.
