Landslide Chaos Strikes Sikkim Again! Road Connectivity Between Rimbi and Yuksom Cut Off, Houses on the Edge of the Hill at Risk

**Darjeeling:** Continuous rainfall has once again devastated the hilly areas of Sikkim with severe landslides. A major landslide on the crucial **Rimbi-Yuksom road** has completely cut off traffic. A large portion of the hill has collapsed, leaving soil, rocks, and debris piled up on the road. As a result, local residents and tourists are facing extreme difficulties.

According to local sources, a significant portion of the road has been damaged due to the landslide. Several houses near the landslide are also currently at risk. Local residents are concerned about the possibility of further landslides as the hillside remains unstable.

Landslides on the hilly roads of Sikkim during the monsoon season are not new. However, the scale of this landslide has raised concerns among locals. The Rimbi-Yuksom road is extremely important for local commuting as well as for tourists. The closure of the road has had a significant impact on communication.

The highest concern has arisen around the houses located along the road. Locals fear that if the rainfall continues, soil and rocks may slide down from the hillside again. This raises questions about the safety of the residents of these houses.

Local residents claim that simply clearing the debris from the road will not provide a permanent solution to the problem. To prevent repeated landslides in the same area in the future, it is necessary to examine the hillside and implement **permanent preventive measures**.

Additionally, there are demands for experts to assess the situation in landslide-prone areas and take necessary safety measures. Locals argue that although the same problems recur every monsoon, the lack of permanent solutions is complicating the situation further.

Currently, the situation in the landslide-affected area is being monitored. It is feared that travel on that route may be risky until the weather normalizes and the road is declared completely safe.

Local residents, people involved in the tourism business, and tourists are now waiting for normal traffic to resume on the Rimbi-Yuksom road.