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Time of India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
In the line of duty: Army leads tireless search, rescue operations after landslides in North Sikkim
NEW DELHI: After the deadly landslide in North Sikkim's Chatten on June 1, the army is carrying out non-stop rescue and relief work, battling heavy rain, rough terrain, and growing uncertainty over the fate of those still missing. Lachen village, a popular tourist spot now completely cut off, has been reconnected by foot thanks to the army. Troops have reached 113 stranded tourists, and efforts to evacuate them are in progress, though bad weather remains a major hurdle. On June 3, 33 tourists, including 2 US nationals, were safely airlifted by military helicopters, from the rain battered Chaten region in the north Sikkim. Supplies and national disaster response force (NDRF) personnel were also air-dropped as part of emergency operations. However, an early morning attempt to evacuate the remaining tourists from Lachen was aborted due to poor visibility. An Mi-17 carrying nine NDRF personnel from Pakyong Airport was forced to turn back mid-air. Meanwhile, the army is advancing its search for six people who went missing after the landslide wiped out part of a military camp. A rescuer stationed in the area confirmed that nine personnel lost their lives in the disaster. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like BCP CFD: Tu oportunidad de ingresos extra principales inversores Leer más Undo 'Very, very heavy rains have been experienced in the area from May 30 onwards,' said the army personnel, deployed at the site. 'The rains were so heavy that a huge waterfall had been created due to the landslide on the other side of the mountain. This never existed before. We carried out certain precautionary evacuations," ANI quoted the official. However, nothing was anticipated on this side of the mountain, where 50-70 personnel were residing. Unfortunately, nature got the better of our nine personnel.' He added, 'In the last three days, we have mobilised all our resources and have been able to recover three of the remains. We are constantly searching for the six personnel who remain missing.' The missing include Lieutenant Colonel Pritpal Singh Sandhu, his wife Squadron Leader Aarti Sandhu (Retd), their daughter Amayra Sandhu, Subedar Dharamveer, Naik Sunilal Muchahary, and Sepoy Sainudheen PK. Specialised search teams and engineering equipment have been deployed, but worsening weather, unstable soil, and the region's high-altitude terrain continue to hamper efforts. Authorities say rescue and relief operations will continue round-the-clock until all stranded individuals are brought to safety and the missing accounted for.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Sikkim landslide: Lt. Col., his retired IAF officer wife among six missing
GUWAHATI: A Lieutenant Colonel and his retired Squadron Leader wife are among six individuals still missing after a landslide struck a military camp in northern Sikkim's Chhaten on Sunday evening (June 1, 2025). The missing are Lt Col. Pritpal Singh Sandhu, retired Indian Air Force officer Aarti Sandhu, their daughter Amayra Sandhu, Subedar Dharamveer, Naik Sunilal Muchachary, and Sepoy Sainudheen P.K. 'Search operations continue with urgency to locate the six individuals still missing. The Army has deployed specialised teams and engineering equipment, but the ongoing efforts have been significantly hampered by extremely bad weather, unstable ground, and the challenging high-altitude terrain,' a Defence Ministry statement said on Wednesday (June 4, 2025). Guwahati-based Defence spokesperson, Lt Col. Mahendra Rawat, said Army teams have been defying extreme weather conditions and a hazardous terrain to assist locals and stranded tourists. 'Lachen village, the main hub for tourism in the region, has been completely cut off. The Army has established foot connectivity to the village and reached out to 113 stranded tourists, who will be evacuated soon,' he said. Thirty tourists, including some foreign nationals, were airlifted by military helicopters after the weather eased on June 3. Landslides and rockfalls have been the major killers since the early monsoon rains began battering all eight northeastern States from the last week of May. Landslides claimed more than 70% of the 47 human lives claimed by rain-induced disasters across the region. Over 800 incidents of landslides have been recorded across the region, with Mizoram accounting for 644 of them, followed by Nagaland with 93. Landslides, landslips, and rockfalls have cut off many strategic locations in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. On the brighter side, the number of people affected by floods in Assam decreased by 16,008 from 6,33,144 recorded on Tuesday. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority's morning flood bulletin on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) 6,17,136 people remain affected by floods across 20 districts. The number of districts hit on Tuesday was 21.
