Landslides Cut Off Geyzing After Heavy Rain
Multiple slides block Geyzing–Legship road as authorities launch restoration work
- Heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides along the Geyzing–Legship road in Sikkim.
- The main road connecting Geyzing to the district headquarters has been blocked.
- Excavators have been deployed to clear debris and restore traffic.
- Authorities have advised commuters to avoid the affected stretch until further notice.
GG News Bureau
Geyzing, 25th June: Heavy rainfall in Sikkim’s Geyzing region triggered multiple landslides along the Geyzing–Legship road, disrupting vehicular movement and severing the district’s primary road connectivity after continuous rain since Tuesday evening.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Geyzing recorded 95.2 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours, leading to slope failures at multiple locations.
District Magistrate Tenzing Denzongpa said authorities received information about the major landslide around 9 pm on Tuesday.
“The main landslide occurred about two kilometres from Geyzing town near a government school at Omchung. While sludge from the nearby hillside has affected the road in the past, this time the landslide also brought down large boulders,” he said.
The debris, comprising mud, rocks and boulders, has completely blocked the Geyzing–Legship road, the district’s main transport artery.
The District Magistrate said the debris may have originated from the Geyzing–Sakyong road area. Excavators have been deployed and road clearance operations are underway, with authorities expecting traffic movement to resume after several hours of restoration work.
Zilla Panchayat member Sagar Sharma said at least three separate landslide locations had been reported along the route, including a major slide near Omchung, another below the main slide zone and a third near Legship.
Expressing concern over recurring disruptions, Sharma alleged that the vulnerable stretch continues to face landslides every monsoon due to the absence of permanent mitigation measures.
He said the issue has repeatedly been raised during District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meetings, but long-term restoration work has not been undertaken.
Calling the Geyzing–Legship road the district’s lifeline, Sharma said there is no alternative route available, making it crucial for the movement of residents, essential supplies and emergency services.
Authorities have advised commuters to avoid the affected road until debris is cleared and traffic is safely restored.
