BRO sounds alert to Sikkim and WB govts following bridge sabotage

Gangtok, Feb 20 (UNI) The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) today sounded an alert to the Sikkim amd West Bengal governments after a sabotage on the vital Tarkhola bridge along National Highway 31A, connecting the two states.

The bridge sabotage and subsequent alert comes at a time when the neighbouring Darjeeling district, through which the NH 31A passes, is embroiled in political crisis. The Tarkhola brigde is located a few kilometres away from the border town of Rangpo and is a permanent concrete bridge.

Unidentified miscreants damaged a portion of the bridge yesterday, creating a barrier in smooth traffic flow. It was temporarily restored by the BRO.

Meanwhile, speaking to UNI, Sikkim BRO commandant A K Dikshit suspected that it was a deliberate sabotage.

''We have already submitted a report to the Darjeeling District Magistrate and lodged an FIR with Rangpo police of West Bengal,'' he said.

The BRO commandant expressed his fears that the incident may not be an isolated case.

''The matter has to be looked into by the West Bengal and Sikkim governments and ensure that it is not repeated again,'' Mr Dikshit said.

The Tarkhola and Teesta bridges are the two vital concrete bridges for the connectivity of the Himalayan state and considered to be its lifeline.

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