Siliguri, June 19 -- A temporary bridge diversion over the Balason River at Dudhia in Darjeeling district of West Bengal was washed away early on Friday following a massive surge in water levels triggered by heavy overnight rainfall across the hills, snapping the crucial road link between Siliguri and Mirik and raising fresh concerns over monsoon-related infrastructure vulnerability in the Himalayan region.
Officials said intense rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik caused the Balason River to swell rapidly during the night.
The strong current swept away a portion of the Hume pipe-based diversion temporary bridge, disrupting vehicular movement and leaving commuters stranded on both sides of the river.
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