Tourists airlifted after landslide, Sikkim remains open for travel: CM Tamang
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday said that only the Lachen and Lachung sectors in the northern part of the mountain state are closed to visitors at the moment, and the rest of the tourist places are now open for tourists.
"Sikkim continues to welcome tourists. All six districts, not just Mangan, have beautiful destinations open for travel," he said, urging tourists to explore the various naturally blissful places of the state.
He also addressed recent misinformation surrounding infrastructure damage in the region. It was previously reported that five bridges were washed away during the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).
However, the CM clarified that these bridges were damaged during this year's monsoon due to unusually heavy rainfall.
Chief Minister Tamang added that the state, with support from the Central government, is committed to long-term development and is focusing on rebuilding and strengthening all vulnerable bridges across Sikkim to prevent future disruptions.
Despite the temporary setback in North Sikkim, officials emphasised that the rest of the state remains safe, accessible, and welcoming for tourists. Nearly 1,500 tourists were stranded in the popular North Sikkim destinations of Lachen and Lachung after the Phidang bridge - considered the region's lifeline - was severely damaged.
The situation was further complicated by a landslide in the Chhaten Army camp near Lachen, making road evacuation impossible.
While all tourists in Lachung were successfully evacuated earlier, rescue operations in Lachen had to be carried out by air.
The evacuation is currently being conducted in phases, with half of the stranded tourists airlifted on Tuesday and the rest being flown out today.
The first air sorties were deployed from the army helipad in Chhaten, where both tourists and military personnel are being rescued. They are being transported to the Greenfield Airport in Pakyong.
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Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
Tourists airlifted after landslide, Sikkim remains open for travel: CM Tamang
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday said that only the Lachen and Lachung sectors in the northern part of the mountain state are closed to visitors at the moment, and the rest of the tourist places are now open for tourists. "Sikkim continues to welcome tourists. All six districts, not just Mangan, have beautiful destinations open for travel," he said, urging tourists to explore the various naturally blissful places of the state. He also addressed recent misinformation surrounding infrastructure damage in the region. It was previously reported that five bridges were washed away during the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). However, the CM clarified that these bridges were damaged during this year's monsoon due to unusually heavy rainfall. Chief Minister Tamang added that the state, with support from the Central government, is committed to long-term development and is focusing on rebuilding and strengthening all vulnerable bridges across Sikkim to prevent future disruptions. Despite the temporary setback in North Sikkim, officials emphasised that the rest of the state remains safe, accessible, and welcoming for tourists. Nearly 1,500 tourists were stranded in the popular North Sikkim destinations of Lachen and Lachung after the Phidang bridge - considered the region's lifeline - was severely damaged. The situation was further complicated by a landslide in the Chhaten Army camp near Lachen, making road evacuation impossible. While all tourists in Lachung were successfully evacuated earlier, rescue operations in Lachen had to be carried out by air. The evacuation is currently being conducted in phases, with half of the stranded tourists airlifted on Tuesday and the rest being flown out today. The first air sorties were deployed from the army helipad in Chhaten, where both tourists and military personnel are being rescued. They are being transported to the Greenfield Airport in Pakyong.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Sikkim landslides: All tourists evacuated from Lachen, cut off from rest; rain hampers relief
Even as the search for six persons, who had gone missing after a landslide struck a military camp in Chaten in north Sikkim, continues, officials in Gangtok said that all the tourists stranded in Lachen have been moved out. 'All 109 tourists stranded in Lachen have been moved to Chaten. They are now safely housed in nearby hotels and the Army camp in Chaten, awaiting air evacuation when weather conditions improve. There are no longer any tourists remaining in Lachen,' a senior official involved in the search and rescue operation said on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, relentless rainfall hampered relief efforts in North Sikkim, as two crucial bridges over the Taran Chu river, located between Munshithang and Chatten, were washed away. This severed motorable access to Chaten from Lachen, significantly escalating logistical challenges for ongoing disaster response operations. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who chaired a high-level emergency meeting on Wednesday, directed officials to intensify rescue and relief operations, especially in Mangan district, which has borne the maximum brunt. 'The government stands in solidarity with the people of Mangan and urges everyone to stay united and cooperate fully with rescue teams and local authorities,' the CM said, as he urged residents and tourists to remain calm. A statement issued by the Sikkim government said: 'The chief minister has issued firm directives to immediately intensify rescue and relief operations in close coordination with the NDRF, SDRF, BRO (Border Roads Organisations), TAAS (Travel Agents Association of Sikkim), and all other relevant agencies. Every effort is being made to ensure that help reaches those in need without delay.' Meanwhile, the Army identified the six missing persons — Lieutenant Colonel Pritpal Singh Sandhu of the Army, his wife Squadron Leader Aarti Sandhu (Retd) of the Indian Air Force, their daughter Amayra Sandhu; and Subedar Dharamveer, Naik Sunilal Muchahary, and Sepoy Sainudheen PK of the Army. Speaking on the Sunday landslide that killed three Army men and swept away other six, Brigadier HS Lidder, a Brigade Commander supervising the search and rescue operations, said, 'Nothing was anticipated. There were around 50-70 personnel residing here. Unfortunately, nature got the better of nine of our personnel. In the last three days, we have mobilised all our resources. We were able to recover three mortal remains. Six personnel of ours continue to be missing.' The IAF said that its Mi-17 helicopters have successfully evacuated 33 stranded survivors, including two US nationals, from the landslide-hit Chaten region. Meanwhile, persistent bad weather in the region halted helicopter sorties from Pakyong Greenfield Airport for the day, delaying further evacuations. Two MI-17 V5 helicopters remain stationed at Pakyong, on standby for immediate deployment once flying conditions improve. In view of the washed-away bridges and suspension of aerial sorties, the Government of Sikkim is now exploring an alternative ground-based evacuation route using a phased transshipment strategy, said officials. Severe weather also impacted Phirphirey Ward under Pachey Samsing GPU, prompting a site visit by the District Disaster Management Authority to assess the situation and extend support. SDM Pakyong, Dakman Subba, reaffirmed the district administration's commitment to restoring normalcy at the earliest, stating that the administration remains vigilant and fully dedicated to extending all necessary and timely assistance to the affected families. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
Over 1,200 Tourists Stranded Amid Rain, Landslides, Rising Rivers In Sikkim
Guwahati: As monsoon tightens its grip on North Sikkim, more than 1,276 domestic tourists and two foreign nationals remain stranded in the picturesque but now perilous valleys of Lachen and Lachung in Mangan district. The situation, triggered by continuous rainfall, landslides, and rising water in the river Teesta, has brought both travel and rescue efforts to a standstill. Evacuation was scheduled for Sunday, but fresh landslides have come in the way. Eight tourists who went missing on May 29 after their vehicle plunged into the Teesta River at Munshithang, ae yet to be traced. In Dzongu, the Phidang Bailey bridge -- newly built after the devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in 2023 -- has suffered structural damage in its base due to the surging waters. The bridge, which acts as a lifeline connecting the isolated Dzongu constituency, is now only passable on foot. Local authorities and the GREF (General Reserve Engineer Force) managed to restore partial access for emergency services on Sunday, but the damage is extensive. "A fresh landslide in Shipgyer, Upper Dzongu, on Friday night blocked the route, forcing a delay... With roads cut off and communication lines fragile, the region remains in a precarious," said Sonam Detchu Bhutia, a senior police officer of Mangan. "The condition of roads in North Sikkim is pathetic. Around 700 to 800 tourists may still be stranded in the higher reaches. The Phidang bridge was our only hope, and even that's now under threat," said Sonam Kipa Bhutia, Zilla Panchayat Upadhakshya of Mangan District.
