Gangtok: The Jawaharlal Nehru Marg has been restored for traffic, allowing the army and people from the half a dozen villages that dot the route to Nathu-la to come down here to replenish their supplies — more than 10 days after the earthquake cut off the road link.
However, the Sikkim government is yet to take a call on whether to allow visitors at Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and the international border — tourist destinations in East district. Trade with the Tibetan Autonomous Region through Nathu-la or the border pass at 14,400ft has also stopped since the September 18 earthquake.
The army had set up relief camps at Kyongnosla and Chhangu where the villagers had been provided with food, shelter and medical attention for all these days.
Twenty-two landslides, minor and major, and the huge boulders brought down by them had blocked 52km of JN Marg. Three stretches of the road had been washed away in the rain.
Project Swastik, which looks after the highway connectivity in Sikkim, engaged seven hydraulic excavators, two bulldozers and four air-compressors (to power the drilling machines) and more than 50 labourers to clear the debris. They also rebuilt the roads at three points and finally JN Marg opened yesterday afternoon.
One of the points is a 55-metre stretch at Km 22.1 that had been peeled off along with a 70m portion of the hillside. Similar breaches of shorter length occurred at two more points on the way to nearest settlement at Kyongnosla, 25km before Nathu-la.
“We had managed to crush and sweep away boulders by September 23 to reach these road breaches. The breach at Km 22.1 was most severe and we used two excavators and two air-compressors from both ends to cut inside the hill and create a new road. By 1pm yesterday, JN Marg was ready,” said Sachin Kumar, the officer in charge of 422 road maintenance platoon of Project Swastik.
The restoration work had been hampered by inclement weather in the first few days after the quake and fog, which descends in high-altitude areas (ranging from Gangtok at 5500ft to Nathu-la) almost every afternoon. Along with early dusk, working hours were restricted to five-six hours in a challenging terrain.
“We had to cope with the weather and also fresh slides. To keep the machines working, we deployed a team from the mechanical workshop that we have in Gangtok. They were stationed along this stretch with spare parts so that the heavy machines could be repaired on the spot,” said Kumar.
The BRO personnel had to keep a constant eye on the hills as loose boulders could slip down any time, crushing the workers below.
“We had watchers on both sides and they used to blow whistles if any boulder was about to slip down,” said BRO junior engineer Ravindar Kumar.
The BRO personnel, already deployed along the JN Marg for road widening, were among the first to come to rescue after the tremor. Landslide had hit a local taxi near Kyongnosla, killing two people on the spot on the evening of September 18.
“We called the local people for help and managed to reach the damaged vehicle. There were two people dead inside. We recovered five injured persons and took them to the nearby army hospital for treatment. We cleared the landslide the next day,” said junior engineer V. John Wilson.
There was light movement of army and civilian vehicles along JN Marg today. Most of the civilians were from the sparse settlements in the border area and were on their way to Gangtok to replenish stocks.
“We have communicated to the civil administration that the JN Marg is open for traffic. The decision to allow tourists to ply on this route lies with the government,” said the officer in charge of the 422 road maintenance platoon.
Villages along this route, especially Kyongnosla (at 10,400 ft) and Chhangu Lake (at 12,400ft and 34km from Gangtok) which depend on tourism for livelihood, were prompt to demand that tourists be allowed on JN Marg.
“Our earnings have been hit so far because of the road blockades.. Tourists are our major source of livelihood. We want them back,” said Phurba Tshering Sherpa, a resident of Kyongnosla.
There are around 18 shops at Kyongnosla, where tourists take a break on their way to Nathu-la. Six of the shops, which sell snacks and souvenirs, have suffered extensive damage. Four have been washed away.
“We appeal to the tourists to visit Sikkim. The road to Chhangu Lake and Nathu-la is open and even if they are stranded while returning, we are ready to take care of them as we had done in past,” said Phurba Tshering .
Liku Doma, whose shop has been damaged, said if the tourists don’t come, “we will all suffer”.
Eight kilometres above Kyongnosla, the 49 shops below Chhangu Lake sport a deserted look. Only two shops are open. The lake is a popular tourist destination with 250-300 taxis making it here daily during the peak seasons.
Around 20 vehicles full of tourists come here even during the off-season.
April-May is the first peak season followed by October to early November.
“All the shops are closed here as no tourists have come. Most of our people have gone to Gangtok today to buy essential commodities now that the road is open. Tourists should be allowed to come here as the livelihood of some 200 families depends on them. They eat and shop. The local people also earn money by offering yak rides to tourists around the lake. We have around 50 yaks,” said K. Sherpa, who lives in one of the villages near the lake.
There was no damage in the Chhangu villages.
“If no tourists come this October, we will have to wait till next April,” said K. Sherpa.
Government spokesperson K.S .Topgay said the decision on allowing tourists up to Nathu-la would be taken tomorrow.
Source: The Telegraph
However, the Sikkim government is yet to take a call on whether to allow visitors at Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and the international border — tourist destinations in East district. Trade with the Tibetan Autonomous Region through Nathu-la or the border pass at 14,400ft has also stopped since the September 18 earthquake.
The army had set up relief camps at Kyongnosla and Chhangu where the villagers had been provided with food, shelter and medical attention for all these days.
Twenty-two landslides, minor and major, and the huge boulders brought down by them had blocked 52km of JN Marg. Three stretches of the road had been washed away in the rain.
Project Swastik, which looks after the highway connectivity in Sikkim, engaged seven hydraulic excavators, two bulldozers and four air-compressors (to power the drilling machines) and more than 50 labourers to clear the debris. They also rebuilt the roads at three points and finally JN Marg opened yesterday afternoon.
One of the points is a 55-metre stretch at Km 22.1 that had been peeled off along with a 70m portion of the hillside. Similar breaches of shorter length occurred at two more points on the way to nearest settlement at Kyongnosla, 25km before Nathu-la.
“We had managed to crush and sweep away boulders by September 23 to reach these road breaches. The breach at Km 22.1 was most severe and we used two excavators and two air-compressors from both ends to cut inside the hill and create a new road. By 1pm yesterday, JN Marg was ready,” said Sachin Kumar, the officer in charge of 422 road maintenance platoon of Project Swastik.
The restoration work had been hampered by inclement weather in the first few days after the quake and fog, which descends in high-altitude areas (ranging from Gangtok at 5500ft to Nathu-la) almost every afternoon. Along with early dusk, working hours were restricted to five-six hours in a challenging terrain.
“We had to cope with the weather and also fresh slides. To keep the machines working, we deployed a team from the mechanical workshop that we have in Gangtok. They were stationed along this stretch with spare parts so that the heavy machines could be repaired on the spot,” said Kumar.
The BRO personnel had to keep a constant eye on the hills as loose boulders could slip down any time, crushing the workers below.
“We had watchers on both sides and they used to blow whistles if any boulder was about to slip down,” said BRO junior engineer Ravindar Kumar.
The BRO personnel, already deployed along the JN Marg for road widening, were among the first to come to rescue after the tremor. Landslide had hit a local taxi near Kyongnosla, killing two people on the spot on the evening of September 18.
“We called the local people for help and managed to reach the damaged vehicle. There were two people dead inside. We recovered five injured persons and took them to the nearby army hospital for treatment. We cleared the landslide the next day,” said junior engineer V. John Wilson.
There was light movement of army and civilian vehicles along JN Marg today. Most of the civilians were from the sparse settlements in the border area and were on their way to Gangtok to replenish stocks.
“We have communicated to the civil administration that the JN Marg is open for traffic. The decision to allow tourists to ply on this route lies with the government,” said the officer in charge of the 422 road maintenance platoon.
Villages along this route, especially Kyongnosla (at 10,400 ft) and Chhangu Lake (at 12,400ft and 34km from Gangtok) which depend on tourism for livelihood, were prompt to demand that tourists be allowed on JN Marg.
“Our earnings have been hit so far because of the road blockades.. Tourists are our major source of livelihood. We want them back,” said Phurba Tshering Sherpa, a resident of Kyongnosla.
There are around 18 shops at Kyongnosla, where tourists take a break on their way to Nathu-la. Six of the shops, which sell snacks and souvenirs, have suffered extensive damage. Four have been washed away.
“We appeal to the tourists to visit Sikkim. The road to Chhangu Lake and Nathu-la is open and even if they are stranded while returning, we are ready to take care of them as we had done in past,” said Phurba Tshering .
Liku Doma, whose shop has been damaged, said if the tourists don’t come, “we will all suffer”.
Eight kilometres above Kyongnosla, the 49 shops below Chhangu Lake sport a deserted look. Only two shops are open. The lake is a popular tourist destination with 250-300 taxis making it here daily during the peak seasons.
Around 20 vehicles full of tourists come here even during the off-season.
April-May is the first peak season followed by October to early November.
“All the shops are closed here as no tourists have come. Most of our people have gone to Gangtok today to buy essential commodities now that the road is open. Tourists should be allowed to come here as the livelihood of some 200 families depends on them. They eat and shop. The local people also earn money by offering yak rides to tourists around the lake. We have around 50 yaks,” said K. Sherpa, who lives in one of the villages near the lake.
There was no damage in the Chhangu villages.
“If no tourists come this October, we will have to wait till next April,” said K. Sherpa.
Government spokesperson K.S .Topgay said the decision on allowing tourists up to Nathu-la would be taken tomorrow.
Source: The Telegraph
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