Photographic record (18Oct2023) of Geil khola section of NH10 - post Lhonak Glacier GLOF.

One of the main casualties of the devastating Lhonak glacier GLOF on 04Oct2023 was the road communications and that too mainly the impact of the floods on NH10 which is the lifeline for the landlocked, mountain state of Sikkim and of Kalimpong district in W Bengal. Of the approx 114km distance from Siliguri to Gangtok, 65kms of NH10 winds itself along the banks of the Teesta.
More than two weeks after the GLOF of 04Oct2023 which shredded the highway at many places the road communications from Gangtok to Siliguri along NH10 has not been restored till date - neither the state highway which connects Darjeeling to Teesta Bazaar.

On 18Oct2023, I photographed the above section of NH10 from the sheer cliffs of Kalimpong district which overlook the highway from the opposite hill - with the intention of preserving the images of what was an extraordinary event for us living in this region.

The above image of Oct 2021 shows a very active landslide (A) at 29th Mile on NH10 (27 01.013N 088 26.087E) and Bangay bazar (B) on the banks of the Teesta.

Telephoto Image of NHPC's TLDPIII and parts of Bangay bazar on 18Oct2023, submerged by the GLOF. Dam operations on TLDPIII has been stopped by the local political party (GTA) for the time being. Do notice the width of the Teesta river and the color of its water which indicates it is still loaded with silt.

                                       A very active 29the Mile landslide zone in 2021.

This year the 29th Mile landslide remained stable even during the GLOF period.

Close up view of the same area on 18Oct2023. The huge mounds of sand on the right bank indicate river levels during the GLOF. NH10 also appears to have been eroded at places.

Likhu Bhir (27 02.181N 088 25.661E) was the most serious landslide on this route decades ago (see image below). After being relatively stable for years, it was reactivated by the GLOF. One can see trucks carrying construction material plying over the slide.

Geil khola (27.028965N 088.427644E) was one of the places which was hit by the GLOF of 04Oct2023. Notice the partly buried homes on the river bank. The District Administration has set up a relief camp at Geil Khola.

Geil khola and its surroundings on 18Oct2023.

Geil Khola - Likhu bhir section of NH10 on 18Oct2023.

It seems ironic that the Kalimpong element of Darjeeling Himalaya Railways (DHR) which used to operate the narrow gauge train from Siliguri to Geil Khola, discontinued its Kalimpong operations after the 1950 disaster in our region.

Damage to DHR tracks in Darjeeling by the June 1950 disaster (photo kind courtesy Das Studio, Darjeeling)

File photo of the Geil Khola - Teesta Bazaar section of NH10 in May 2017.

The same section of the road after the GLOF - notice the level and size of the Teesta river and the many places eroded on NH10.

This place is in the vicinity of the Teesta bridge. The erosion of the road along the banks of the Teesta can be seen here.
Will the NHPC TLDP III dam operations under circumstances where the level of the river has now risen significantly affect NH10?
Also the safety of the thousands of vehicles which will ply on the highway when it is reopens and especially during the monsoons of 2024 are questions which need to be pondered upon.

Praful Rao
Kalimpong district
Darjeeling Sikkim Himalaya
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744