Amid inclement weather, the search and rescue operation continued in full swing on Tuesday in North Sikkim, which has been hit by torrential rains and landslides for the past six days. Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, and Phidang are the worst-hit areas where hundreds of tourists got stranded last weekend.
On Monday, roughly 1,500 tourists stranded in Lachung were brought back via Phidang using private vehicles. However, fresh landslides made ground rescue efforts difficult, prompting authorities to begin air evacuation operations after consulting the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In Lalchen district, where a landslide struck Chaten military camp, killing three army personnel, a search operation is underway to find the six missing. On Tuesday morning, two MI-17 V5 helicopters airlifted 34 people — 27 tourists and seven family members of the army personnel — from Chaten, officials said, adding this was the first successful aerial evacuation carried out under the current emergency response plan in the state, where inclement weather conditions continue.
“However, air rescue operations, which brought 34 people to Pakyong this morning, had to be suspended due to worsening weather. They will resume once conditions improve,” said an official in Gangtok.
As of Tuesday morning, 113 tourists remain stranded in Lachen, 40 in the Chaten army camp, and seven in the Jima area.
Meanwhile, authorities have successfully established a pedestrian route between Lachen and Chaten, allowing limited ground movement of tourists.
A team of 23 NRDF personnel has also reached Chaten with critical supplies and established temporary communication lines in the severely cut-off region.
Authorities are also exploring alternate foot routes and assessing helipad feasibility, depending on weather, to ensure aid reaches all affected communities promptly.
The Sikkim government’s Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, meanwhile, issued an advisory for tourists, saying the road leading to Lachen Lachung has been temporarily closed due to the heavy landslide at multiple areas in North Sikkim.
“All other parts of Sikkim are, however, open for tourists. Visitors/tourists are therefore advised to plan their tour to Sikkim accordingly,” the Tourism Department said.
The state government has officially declared the situation a natural disaster, prompting an urgent and coordinated multi-agency response.
Chief Secretary R Telang is leading a team which is working in close coordination with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) and Indian Army to help stranded civilians and restore critical access to the affected areas of Chaten and Lachen in Mangan district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered all possible help to the state during his call with Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
In a post on X, the CM wrote to the PM, “On behalf of the people of Sikkim, I extend my heartiest gratitude for your kind concern and support regarding the landslide and flood situation in the state. Our state administration remains fully committed to managing the situation and providing all necessary assistance to those affected.”
Search continued for the eight tourists after a vehicle, carrying 11 people, fell 1,000 feet below into the Teesta river near Munshithang in North Sikkim on May 29. Two people were rescued alive, while the body of one was recovered immediately after the accident.
The search is being carried out by personnel of the NDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, Forest Department, Tourism Department, TAAS (Travel Agents Association of Sikkim), and police.
No trace of the missing persons has been found so far, an official said.
“The search operation continues under challenging conditions, and every effort is being made to locate the missing tourists,” read a release from the District Information Office (DIO), Mangan District, North Sikkim.
Of the eight missing tourists, four are from Odisha and two each from Tripura and Uttar Pradesh, the official said.
The two rescued have been identified as Swayam Supratim Nayak and Sairaj Jena, both from Odisha. The driver was identified as Passang Denu Sherpa of Singhik in North Sikkim.
Governor inspects Indreni Bridge
Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur on Tuesday inspected the Indreni Bridge at Singtam amid rising water levels. He was accompanied by Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Governor Jitendra Singh Raje and other senior officials.
Speaking with local officials and residents, he urged caution and instructed departments to implement all necessary safety measures. ENS