Tindharia Railway Locomotive Workshop collapses in landslide

KURSEONG, 19 JULY: A major portion of Tindharia Railway Locomotive Workshop collapsed today in a landslide triggered by last night’s incessant rainfall.
A disaster was waiting to happen here after it was severely affected by a massive landslide just below its foundation and also by the trembler that shook Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills like never before last year.
The landslides were also reported at other places: mainly in the Kurseong sub-division in the hills.
In the Tindharia Railway Workshop landslide, a major part of it gave way in which around 28 wheels of the Darjeeling toy train and other equipment of the workshop were damaged. Following the incident, senior railway authorities, including NF Railway ADRM, Mr Devendra Singh Kunwar, and the DHR Director, Mr M Bhutia, and GJMM leaders visited the spot to take stock of the situation.
The railway authorities immediately shifted equipment to safer places. It is learnt that shifting of equipment is on to save the remaining equipment.
Later, demanding prompt action residents of Tindharia and GJMM leaders gheraoed the ADRM and other railway officials alleging that because of them the entire Tindhria region is in grave danger.
The GTA Sabha member-elect from Mahanadi Tindharia constituency, Mrs Prabha Chettri, said: "After last year’s landslide and earthquake we, along with the locals, had demanded immediate reconstruction work and other precautionary measures but were given false assurances and today’s landslide is the result of the negligence. Now, if no steps are taken there will be further damage in future. Till we are given a written assurance that reconstruction and other precautionary measures will follow we will continue to gherao them."
The DHR director, Mr Bhutia, said several measures have been taken by the department to save the Tindharia Railway Workshop.
Late in the evening there was a meeting between the railway authorities and GJMM leaders headed by the party general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri, at the workshop.
In another incident, a house was damaged at Selim Pahar near Ghayabari and around 10 ft of NH-55 collapsed in the landslide.
The landslide paralysed vehicular movement on Giddhapar-Ghayabari road for hours as large chunks of boulders and debris fell on the road. The debris and boulders were later removed.
In another incident, a portion of Pankhabari HS School was affected. However, the main school building was not affected. 

SNS