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The closure applies to the 30-kilometre section of the highway between the Coronation Bridge near Sevoke and Chitrey, a portion already notorious for frequent disruptions due to unstable terrain. The entire NH10 runs from Sevoke to Rangpo, spanning approximately 52.1 kilometres.
With traffic blocked, vehicles bound for Kalimpong and Gangtok from Siliguri are being diverted through alternate routes. Light vehicles are permitted to move via Damdim–Lava–Kalimpong–Chitrey and Kalijhora–Panbu–Kalimpong. Many small vehicles are also opting for the NH717A route via Bagrakote–Nimbong–Pala–Kalimpong. However, the district administration has prohibited the movement of heavy vehicles, except passenger buses, on all diversion routes.
The latest disruption follows a fresh landslide at Kalimpong’s 18th Mile, locally known as Selfiedara, which struck on Thursday morning, August 14, a day before Independence Day. The landslide, occurring between Sevoke and Chitrey, raised immediate concerns about whether traffic could be restored in time for the Independence Day celebrations. NHIDCL quickly deployed men and machinery to clear the debris, but the recurring nature of such incidents has cast doubt over the long-term stability of the highway.
This is not the first time in recent weeks that NH10 has been blocked. On August 12, NHIDCL had already ordered a complete halt of traffic until August 15, citing multiple landslides and road cave-ins at locations such as 27th Mile and Swetijhora. Continuous downpours across north Bengal further worsened the situation, with the Teesta river swelling in its upper catchments and flooding stretches of the state highway connecting Kalimpong with Darjeeling via Teesta Bazar and Rabijhora.
Tourism stakeholders and local residents are increasingly anxious as NH10 remains highly vulnerable to landslides, especially during the monsoon. The highway is not only vital for civilian movement but also strategically important as it connects Sikkim, a border state adjoining China, to the rest of India.
The management and maintenance of NH10 have changed hands multiple times over the decades. Initially maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence as part of NH31A since 1969, the Sevoke–Rangpo stretch (96 km) was divided in 2016, when 52 km from Sevoke to Rangpo was handed over to the Bengal Public Works Department (PWD). The remaining 42 km stayed with BRO. However, persistent complaints over road conditions led to repeated transfers of responsibility. After being under the jurisdiction of the PWD and the BRO at different times, the stretch between Coronation Bridge (Sevoke) and Rangpo was finally handed over on December 26, 2024, to NHIDCL, which functions under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Despite NHIDCL’s ongoing restoration and repair efforts, frequent landslides continue to pose formidable challenges. For now, the closure has been extended once again, leaving commuters, tourists, and transporters dependent on alternate routes until at least August 17, when the situation will be reviewed.
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