IAS Officer Pari Bishnoi Leads On-Ground Effort to Reopen Siliguri–Gangtok National Highway 10
IAS Officer Pari Bishnoi Leads Efforts to Reopen Siliguri–Gangtok National Highway 10 After Landslides
IAS officer Pari Bishnoi, a 2020-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, is leading efforts to restore traffic on National Highway 10 (NH-10), the crucial road linking Siliguri in West Bengal with Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
Currently serving as the District Collector of Pakyong, Bishnoi is at the forefront of the administration’s response to the highway closure caused by heavy landslides over the past week. The disruption has affected thousands of commuters and residents, making the reopening of the route a top priority.
District Collector Conducts On-Site Inspection
On July 23, District Collector Pari Bishnoi led an inspection team to landslide-hit areas near Bhanu Turning in Pakyong to assess the damage and review drainage-related issues.
During the inspection, officials reported that debris from the landslides had blocked a culvert, preventing mountain runoff from flowing through its natural channel. As a result, water overflowed onto the highway and nearby private properties, causing further damage to the affected area.
Administration Working Round the Clock
The district administration is working continuously to clear debris, restore drainage, and stabilize the affected stretches of the highway. Officials are focusing on reopening NH-10 at the earliest while ensuring the safety of commuters and local residents.
NH-10 is considered the lifeline connecting Sikkim with the rest of the country, and its closure has significantly disrupted transportation, the movement of essential supplies, and travel between Siliguri and Gangtok. Under Pari Bishnoi’s leadership, the administration is coordinating restoration work on a war footing to resume traffic as soon as conditions permit.
IAS Officer Pari Bishnoi Reviews Landslide Site as NH-10 Remains Closed
During the inspection, District Collector Pari Bishnoi assessed the condition of the affected hillside, protective structures, and surrounding areas. She sought detailed information on the causes of the slope failure, the extent of the damage, disruptions to the water supply, the existing drainage system, emergency mitigation measures, and the restoration work being carried out by the concerned agencies.
Why Has the Siliguri–Gangtok Highway Come to a Halt?
Speaking to NDTV, IAS officer Pari Bishnoi explained that National Highway 10 (NH-10), which passes through Pakyong district, is the only major road connecting Siliguri in West Bengal with Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
She said that persistent heavy monsoon rains have triggered a series of dangerous landslides in the Bardang area of Pakyong. As a result, NH-10 has remained completely blocked for the past week due to the accumulation of debris.
Bishnoi added that the Pakyong district administration had initially succeeded in clearing the route, but fresh landslides soon struck the area, worsening the situation and forcing the highway to remain closed. Authorities are continuing restoration work while closely monitoring the stability of the affected slopes to ensure safe reopening of the highway.