1. Sikkim’s ongoing rescue operations on Tuesday saw 1,225 tourists evacuated from Lachung and nearby areas.
2. Landslides and heavy rain last week caused fatalities and prompted urgent evacuation efforts.
3. Government efforts are focused on safely relocating remaining tourists pending favorable weather conditions.
Gangtok, June 19: Rescue operations in Sikkim continued into the second day on Tuesday, with the state government successfully evacuating 1,225 tourists from Lachung and nearby areas in Mangan district.
These regions were severely affected by landslides and heavy rainfall last week, leading to multiple fatalities, according to officials.
“We have evacuated 1,225 tourists from Lachung and surrounding areas, transporting them to Mangan town by road today,” stated Additional District Magistrate Vishnu Lama.
Earlier on Monday, 64 tourists were rescued and safely brought to Mangan, the district’s headquarters.
Here are the latest updates:
- Remaining tourists, estimated to be several hundred, will be evacuated on Wednesday, contingent on favorable weather conditions.
- Six helicopters are on standby at Bagdogra airport in West Bengal for the evacuation operation, as confirmed by Additional District Magistrate Vishnu Lama.
Indian Army soldiers from the Trishakti Corps, in collaboration with local authorities, conducted rescue operations for stranded tourists in North Sikkim on Wednesday.
Due to landslide-induced disruptions, tourists are being relocated using available roads or on foot where roads remain accessible. “Despite challenging weather and terrain, Indian Army signalers assisted BSNL and Airtel in restoring mobile connectivity on June 18, 2024,” according to an Army.
Since June 12, the Indian Army has installed over half a dozen telephone booths to facilitate communication for locals and tourists.
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District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri is overseeing the evacuation efforts personally. Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu Bhutia, along with other senior civil and police officials, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local panchayats, and volunteers, are actively involved in the rescue operations.
Concerns over student safety prompted the closure of all government schools in Mangan district on Tuesday, owing to property damage and blocked roads across various clusters. Chettri has ordered the closure of government schools in Manul, Singhik, Mangan, Mangshilla, Lingdong, Hee Gyathang, Passingdong, Lingzya, Tingvong, and Gor clusters until further notice.
Many roads have been washed out, forcing stranded tourists to navigate through three to four locations on foot before boarding vehicles to reach Mangan.
Since June 13, landslides in North and South Sikkim have claimed at least nine lives. The landslides caused extensive damage to homes, disrupted power and communication networks, and swept away roads and bridges along with the rising River Teesta.
Rescued individuals traveled from Mangan, a popular tourist destination, to Gangtok using vehicles provided by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Transport Department. They subsequently continued their onward journeys, according to the ADM.
