No casualties were reported as the area was evacuated before the landslide, officials said.

“For the past seven days, minor landslides were taking place frequently in the area. Recognizing the potential threat, the state and the local administration had started the evacuation process in the area. Those working at the power station were evacuated in the last few days to ensure that no one remained inside when the major slide finally hit the area. As a result, there were no casualties,” an official said.

However, the landslide has cut off several areas of Sikkim. A road connecting Singtam town to Mangan district has also been hit.

The Teesta Stage 5 dam, hit by the landslide, was rendered non-operational last October following the glacial lake outburst flood that caused significant damage and flooding across the Teesta river basin. The dam that was overwhelmed by the flash floods was being reconstructed.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) said restoration work on the road damaged by the landslide will begin soon and the road will be made operational at the earliest.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall for Sikkim and several parts of Northeast states between August 20 and 23.

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