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insightDriving to Gangtok? NH10's Recent Closures, the Alternative Route and How to Check Before You Go
NH10 has been closed at the landslide-prone Bardang stretch twice since July. Here is what happened, the route traffic takes instead and how to check before you drive.
NH10, the 174-km highway from Siliguri to Gangtok, has been closed several times this year at the landslide-prone 20th Mile (Bardang) stretch between Rangpo and Ranipool. If you are driving to Sikkim this season, check the road on the morning you travel and know the alternative.
Recent closures
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 17 to 19 July 2026 | NH10 closed to all vehicles at Km 60.180 near Bardang for emergency slope repairs, under an NHIDCL order |
| 17 September 2026 | A landslide at Bardang closed the highway again after heavy rain |
The July closure was ordered by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), Northeast Live reported. The September slide at Bardang was reported by Borok Times. The Geological Survey of India and ISRO have flagged this stretch as highly landslide-prone.
The alternative route
When NH10 is shut, traffic to Gangtok is usually diverted through Kalimpong and Lava. It is a longer, slower hill road, so allow two to three extra hours, and avoid driving it after dark.
How to check before you drive
- Ask your driver or hotel in Gangtok on the morning you travel. Local drivers know within hours when the road closes.
- Check the Sikkim Police and district administration social media pages for traffic advisories.
- Leave Siliguri, NJP or Bagdogra by early afternoon so you are not on the road after dark if you are diverted.
- For flights out of Bagdogra, keep a buffer of half a day or more in the monsoon and just after it.
Read Breeziah's Is Sikkim safe for tourists? guide and how to reach Sikkim for more planning help.
NH10 reopens quickly after most slides, but closures happen at short notice, especially at Bardang. Check with your driver, hotel or Sikkim Police on the morning you travel.
Traffic is usually diverted via Kalimpong and Lava. Allow two to three extra hours.
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