North Sikkim plunged into chaos as the collapse of the Toong Bridge disrupted traffic flow, causing significant delays in travel to the region. The bridge collapse, triggered by flooding in the Teesta River, led authorities to enforce new restrictions under Section 34(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
With the bridge out of commission, travel between Mangan and Chungthang via Toong-Naga came to a halt, forcing commuters to reroute through the narrow Sangkalang-Saffo-Shipgyer road. However, the narrowness of the alternative route exacerbated congestion issues, heightening concerns about potential accidents.
To address safety risks, Hem Kumar Chettri, SCS, District Collector-cum-Magistrate of Mangan District, issued directives aimed at safeguarding commuters and locals navigating the narrow route. Efforts are underway to repair the collapsed bridge, with construction teams working diligently to restore normalcy to vehicular movement in the area.