59 tourists airlifted from north Sikkim as rescue ops resume
They were among the 109 tourists stranded in north Sikkim's Lachung for nearly a week.
Two MI-17V5 helicopters left for Chaten in north Sikkim from Pakyong airport near State capital Gangtok in the early morning after the weather cleared. While 39 tourists returned on one copter, 20 returned on another, officials said.
Among those rescued were two foreigners, they said.
Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) has deployed buses to help these rescued tourists reach Siliguri in West Bengal.
An additional helicopter has been kept on standby at Pakyong airport for those who want to travel to Bagdogra near Siliguri by air.
The two helicopters flew to Chaten with personnel from the NDRF and Power Department, and engineers of Airtel, who would work in the region for restoring essential services, they said.
These 109 tourists were brought to Chaten for air evacuation, they added.
The tourists were accommodated in hotels and at the Chaten military camp, an officer said.
Helicopter sorties from the Pakyong airport were suspended on Wednesday due to bad weather in north Sikkim, delaying evacuations.
On Sunday, three Army personnel were killed and six soldiers went missing after landslides hit a military camp at Chaten. Several others were also injured.
The search operations for the six missing personnel have been hampered by bad weather conditions, unstable ground, and the challenging high-altitude terrain, an official said.
The ongoing relief operations in north Sikkim faced a critical setback after two key bridges over the Taran Chu river, situated between Munshithang and Chaten, were washed away by incessant rains, severing motorable access to Chaten from Lachen.
Three days ago, 1,678 tourists were rescued from Lachung and Chungthang, while 33 others, including two U.S. nationals, were successfully airlifted before the sorties were suspended on Wednesday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Cable suspension bridge new attraction of Pitripaksh Mela at Punpun
Patna: Pilgrims and tourists can now enjoy a walk on the cable suspension bridge at Punpun, similar to the 'Lakshman Jhula' in Rishikesh, during the fortnight-long Pitripaksh Mela that will begin on Sept 6. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During a meeting held on Friday to review the preparations for the mela, district magistrate Thiyagarajan SM said, "The construction of the bridge is in its final stage. This will help devotees and tourists in commuting for 'tarpan' and 'pind daan' and will develop Punpun as an important tourist destination." He directed the executive officer of nagar panchayat, Punpun, to ensure that all pre-installed LED high-mast lights remain operational. Officials were asked to set up a temporary control room, a tourist assistance-cum-facilitation centre, and monitor the area with CCTV. The district administration will also construct temporary tents for the convenience of devotees. As a precautionary measure, proper barricading will be done, while NDRF/SDRF teams and divers will be pressed into service. The SDO will send a letter to the DRM, Danapur, requesting short-term halts of trains at Punpun Ghat halt and Punpun station.
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
Gujarat Woman Tears Dupatta, Ties It As Rakhi To Uttarakhand Chief Minister During Flood Inspection
A tourist from Gujarat tore a part of her dupatta and tied it to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's wrist during his inspection tour of the disaster-affected areas in Dharali, Uttarkashi. A video showing the woman tearing her dupatta, tying it as a rakhi and expressing gratitude for CM Dhami's efforts has been shared by news agency ANI. In Hindu tradition, a rakhi symbolises the bond of love, protection, and duty between brothers and sisters. #WATCH | Uttarkashi | On Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's arrival at Harsil, a woman tourist from Gujarat tore a part of her dupatta and tied a Rakhi on the CM's wrist, as a token of thanks and appreciation for his government's disaster relief operations. — ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2025 While tying it, she told him, "For me, you are like Lord Krishna -- protecting not just me, but all the mothers and sisters here, like a true brother. You have been with us for three days, ensuring our safety and looking after our needs." #WATCH | Uttarkashi | On Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's arrival at Harsil, a woman tourist from Gujarat tore a part of her dupatta and tied a Rakhi on the CM's wrist, as a token of thanks and appreciation for his government's disaster relief operations. — ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2025 The woman, Dhangauri Baroliya, from Isnapur, Ahmedabad, came with her family for a pilgrimage to Gangotri, according to ETV Bharat. On August 5, a severe cloudburst caused a sudden landslide and strong currents blocked the route, trapping her and her family. A cloudburst that impacted the upper watershed of the Kheer Ganga river caused a flash flood in the Dharali village in Uttarkashi, resulting in the death of at least five people. Plans are being made to evacuate the pilgrims stranded in the Gangotri Dham via the Nelong Valley, he said, adding, "All arrangements have been made and they will be evacuated very soon." At least 840 people have been rescued so far, and at least 50 are missing. In a Facebook post, CM Dhami wrote: "Reviewed the relief and rescue operations going on in Dharali in Uttarkashi this morning." With the help of Heli Seva, Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters, rescue operations have been carried out on a war footing since the morning, and people are being brought back safely, he added. In Dharali, flash floods destroyed buildings and carried people and vehicles away. Residents of neighbouring villages, like Mukhba, claim that the tragedy washed out more than half of their village.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business Standard
Search ops for missing people in Uttarakhand's Dharali continue: Official
On Friday, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting with officials from the NDRF and Indo-Tibetan Border Police at the camp office in Uttarkashi to review the ongoing rescue op in Dharali ANI Search operations for the missing people are still ongoing in Dharali town in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, where flash floods triggered by torrential rain hit hotels and residential buildings on Tuesday, said an official. "Yesterday, we evacuated nearly 382 people. Our operation is going on in three directions. We are evacuating pilgrims stranded in Gangotri, who have come from outside the state. We are restoring road connectivity. Third is clearing the debris and looking for the missing people in the worst-affected Dharali, and also the listing of the loss to public and private property," Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey told ANI. He said that dedicated senior officers have been working on these three fronts. "Today, so far, 44 people have been evacuated. Helicopter services are going on uninterrupted. The weather is not suitable for Chinook and Mi helicopters, so as soon as the weather becomes favourable, they will be deployed. The CM is still in Uttarkashi and supervising the operation... Necessary food items are being constantly sent there," he said. "Two generators are ready to be transported to the affected area to restore electricity, and as soon as there is clearance for flying the Chinook and Mi choppers, the generators will be immediately flown. The internet will also be restored soon," he added. The state has been witnessing heavy monsoon-triggered disruptions, especially in its higher-altitude regions, prompting large-scale evacuation and relief operations led by multiple agencies. Two cloudbursts on Tuesday, one in Dharali and another in the Sukhi Top area near Dharali, caused widespread destruction, with Dharali bearing the brunt. On Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting with officials from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at the camp office in Uttarkashi to review the ongoing rescue operation in Dharali. Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), along with ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, BRO, and local volunteers, engaged in a joint rescue and relief operation to search for the missing. People trapped in the Dharali-Harsil disaster are being rescued through helicopters and brought to Matli helipad, from where arrangements have also been made to ensure their safe arrival at their destination. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DIG Gambhir Singh Chauhan said that helicopter services have been deployed to evacuate those trapped. Multiple agencies, including the Indian Army, NDRF, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and local administration, are coordinating efforts both on the ground and in the air. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
