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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Six army personnel still missing after Sunday landslide in North Sikkim
A multi-agency rescue operation is underway in North Sikkim, with airlifts being used to evacuate hundreds of stranded tourists and deliver aid. Continuous torrential rain has triggered widespread landslides across North Sikkim, affecting areas such as Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, and Phidang. Three army personnel died, and six others remain missing after a rain-triggered landslide struck a military camp at Chaten in Sikkim's Lachen district on Sunday evening. According to officials, a joint effort is being led by the Indian Army and a specialised disaster response team sent by the Centre. On Tuesday morning, a V-5 helicopter landed at Pakyong Greenfield Airport with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams equipped with satellite phones and essential rescue gear. Two MI-17 V5 helicopters successfully airlifted 34 individuals from Chaten where the mission began earlier on Tuesday, including injured army personnel, their families, and tourists. The first sortie carried 23 NDRF personnel from Pakyong to Chaten, delivering critical supplies and establishing temporary communication lines in the severely cut-off region. Roughly 1,500 tourists stranded in Lachung were brought back via Phidang on Monday using private vehicles. However, fresh landslides on Sunday night made ground rescue efforts impossible, prompting authorities to begin air evacuation operations after consulting the Ministry of Home Affairs. As of Tuesday morning, 113 tourists remain stranded in Lachen, 40 in the Chaten army camp, and seven in the Jima area. 'Authorities have successfully established a pedestrian route between Lachen and Chaten, allowing limited ground movement of tourists. 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 a Sikkim administrative official. In a separate development, Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur inspected the Indreni Bridge at Singtam amid rising water levels. He spoke with local officials and residents, urging caution and instructing departments to implement all necessary safety measures. Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Governor Jitendra Singh Raje and other senior officials accompanied him. Authorities are also exploring alternate foot routes and assessing helipad feasibility, depending on weather, to ensure aid reaches all affected communities promptly. Meanwhile, the search continues for tourists missing in a May 29 road accident near Munshithang in North Sikkim, where a vehicle fell — for almost 1,000 feet — into the Teesta river. Adverse weather and high water levels have hampered efforts, but joint rescue operations have continued since the incident. On Tuesday, a search team from the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department surveyed the area around the accident site. This was led by Joint Director (Adventure) Kazi Sherpa who was accompanied by Deputy Director Manoj Chettri, Tourist Officer Anup Subba, and Information Assistant Sonam Pintso Bhutia. They were joined by officials from the district tourism office in Mangan and the IHCAE team. The search operation is being conducted in coordination with the local administration, police (led by SDM and SDPO Chungthang), Fire and Emergency Services, Forest Department, TAAS, and other stakeholders. Family members of the missing tourists were also present at the site for firsthand updates. Simultaneously, NDRF teams conducted an extensive riverbed search. On June 1 and 2, NDRF and Tourism Department personnel scoured 3-4 km downstream. Also, an SDRF team led by ASI Dawa Sherpa has been searching along the river belts of Toong, Ritchu Khola, Chungthang, and further downstream. 'The search operation continues under challenging conditions, and every effort is being made to locate the missing tourists,' stated a release from the District Information Office (DIO), Mangan District, North Sikkim. 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
India Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
36 dead, over 5.5 lakh affected as heavy rain continues to lash Northeast
The flood situation in the Northeast remains grim as incessant rainfall continues to cause mayhem across several states. The total death toll from floods and landslides triggered by the downpour over the past few days has now risen to 36, with over 5.5 lakh people affected across the region. advertisementAssam is the worst-hit state, reporting 11 deaths and over 5.35 lakh affected people across 22 districts. Fifteen rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Barak and Subansiri, were flowing above danger levels at multiple Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said Sribhumi, Cachar and Nagaon districts were amongst the worst affected. Over 31,000 people have taken shelter in 165 relief camps, and the deluge has also destroyed crops across 12,610 hectares and killed 94 animals in the last 24 hours. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who visited flood-hit areas in Lakhimpur district, blamed the release of water from North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited's (NEEPCO) Ranganadi Dam in upstream Arunachal Pradesh for worsening the flood NEEPCO reserves a large quantity of water and then releases it together, it becomes a kind of 'water bomb'," Sarma said. He announced temporary and post-monsoon restoration of breached embankments and assured residents of all necessary flood impact also disrupted rail, road and ferry services, with ferry operations between Majuli and Jorhat suspended for the second consecutive day. Train services from Silchar were also cancelled due to Arunachal Pradesh, the toll climbed to 10 after one more death was reported from Lohit district. Over 900 people in 23 districts have been affected by floods and landslides, with rivers in spate across West Kameng, Dibang Valley, Papum Pare and other districts. Governor Lt General K T Parnaik (Retd) expressed condolences and urged people to remain alert in vulnerable reported three deaths and six army personnel missing after a landslide struck a military camp at Chhaten in Mangan district on Sunday evening. Defence officials identified the deceased as Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur and porter Abhishek Lakhada. Rescue operations are underway in extremely challenging terrain. On Tuesday morning, a V-5 helicopter deployed 23 NDRF personnel from Pakyong Greenfield Airport to Chaten in North Sikkim for relief operations. Equipped with satellite phones and emergency gear, the team will assist in rescue, evacuation and restoring communication in the inaccessible region. Authorities are also exploring foot-access routes and helipad feasibility, depending on weather conditions. Seeing the situation in the Northeast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla. PM Modi has assured all the help and support to combat the Sarma took to X and wrote that PM Modi called him to enquire about the current flood situation in Assam. He added, "I briefed him on how continuous rainfall in Assam and adjoining states has led to flooding and impacted many lives. I also apprised him of the relief operation undertaken by the state government." advertisementHe further wrote, "The Hon'ble PM expressed concern and assured full support from the Central Government for our relief and rehabilitation efforts. Grateful for his guidance and unwavering support to the people of Assam."Sikkim Chief Secretary R Telang chaired a high-level review meeting, focusing on road clearance, power restoration and evacuation measures. The tourism department has issued advisories urging travellers to check weather and road conditions before planning Mizoram, all schools were shut on Monday as heavy rain led to landslides, mudslides and waterlogging. At least five people, including three Myanmarese refugees, have died since May 24 due to rain-related incidents. Earlier, educational institutions were closed on May 29 and 30 as a is also reeling from severe floods, with over 19,800 people affected and more than 3,000 houses damaged across the state. Major rivers, including the Imphal and Iril, have breached their banks at several points, submerging nearby residential areas and agricultural land. advertisementTripura, meanwhile, saw some improvement in the flood situation on Monday with reduced rainfall and receding river levels. However, over 10,000 people continued to stay in 66 relief camps across the state, officials said. West Tripura accounted for the maximum number of displaced the monsoon continues to batter the Northeast states, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Guwahati has forecast moderate to very heavy rainfall across Assam, with isolated areas expected to receive extremely heavy showers. Authorities across the Northeast remain on high alert amid ongoing rescue, relief and restoration India Meteorological Department on Tuesday forecast light to moderate rainfall across most parts of Northeast India over the next seven days. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely on June 3, with chances of isolated heavy showers continuing over the following 24 hours, the weather office Watch
United News of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
NDRF deployed to bolster rescue op after landslide flattens Army camp in Sikkim
Gangtok, June 3 (UNI) A 23-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was on Tuesday deployed to bolster the ongoing rescue and evacuation at Chaten in north district's remote Lachen where a massive landslide flattened an Army camp killing three, wounding 4 while six went missing since Monday evening, official sources said. The Sikkim government, meanwhile, declared the north district as " disaster-hit" and warned tourists and other stakeholders to avoid the region for now as the entire district bordering China has remained largely inaccessible since May 28 following rains, which triggered a series of landslides affecting infrastructure. In response to the disaster in north Sikkim, one V-5 helicopter has landed at Pakyong Greenfield Airport, deploying teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The NDRF units are equipped with satellite phones and essential emergency equipment, official sources said. The first sortie of the day, comprising 23 NDRF personnel equipped with essential supplies, proceeded towards Chaten from Pakyong Greenfield Airport. "The deployment aims to bolster on-ground efforts in the remote region, where access has been severely hampered due to recent natural disruptions. The teams will aid in evacuation, rescue and the establishment of temporary communication lines to assist affected residents," an official source said. The authorities have issued directives to explore alternate foot-access routes and assess the feasibility of helipad operations, depending on prevailing weather conditions. The efforts are made to reach isolated communities and ensure timely aid, a government communique said. Chief minister Prem Singh Golay condoled the demise of Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur and porter Abhishek Lakhadia, who were buried alive when massive landslides swept away an Army camp at Chaten, about 9000 ft above the sea level and about 110 km from Gangtok. Four more wounded were rescued and six personnel have been missing since the disaster struck on Monday at around 7 pm. State chief secretary R Telang, chaired a high-level meeting to review the disaster situation in Mangan district, which has been severely affected by continuous rain, landslides, and widespread disruption in connectivity. The meeting focused on key issues such as road blockages, evacuation of stranded tourists, and the urgent restoration of essential services like power, roadway and telecommunications. In a video conference briefing, district magistrate of Mangan Anant Jain updated the ground situation. The authorities were instructed to maintain effective communication with residents, particularly about the timing and routes for evacuation. Officials from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) provided an update on the extent of road damage and ongoing restoration efforts. The BRO was directed to deploy sufficient manpower and machinery to expedite the reopening of strategic routes. The teams from BSNL and power, will be mobilised from Pakyong to Lachen by helicopter with essential equipment and backup batteries to restore services. The home department has been tasked with organising and dispatching field teams, while the district authorities have been instructed to provide continuous situation updates and ensure coordination among field teams and the State Control Room in coordination with Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). The Chief Secretary stressed that immediate priority must be given to restoring power (both conventional and mobile) and telecommunication services, including the use of satellite-based solutions in inaccessible areas. In case full connectivity cannot be restored immediately, departments are to explore foot access routes and evaluate helipad operations, depending on weather conditions. The government underlined the importance of inter-departmental coordination, calling on all departments, including SSDMA, to consolidate their field-level inputs and take a unified approach to relief operations. Coordination with the Indian Army was also suggested for logistics support and situational updates. The immediate objective is the restoration of connectivity and the safe evacuation of those stranded," officials said. The government of Sikkim, through the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) and the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, has officially declared the damage caused by incessant rains in Mangan District from May 28 onwards as a 'disaster' under Section 22(2)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. UNI PC PRS
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Sikkim floods: Search underway to trace missing army personnel; NDRF team in Chaten
Search operations resumed on Tuesday to trace six army personnel, including a Lt Col and his family, who went missing after a landslide hit an army camp at Chaten in North Sikkim, officials aware of the developments said. A 23-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached Chaten on Tuesday where the police and army were carrying out search operations. Three bodies were found on Monday. 'The NDRF team from Pakyong airport reached Chaten by helicopters at 8am and started a search and rescue operation along with army and police,' said Arun Thatal, sub-divisional officer of Chungthang in Mangan district. Also Read: Sikkim weather: Operation underway to rescue 1000 tourists; IMD predicts more rain A statement issued by the Sikkim government on Tuesday morning said, 'In response to the ongoing disaster in North Sikkim, two V-5 helicopters landed at Pakyong Greenfield Airport, deploying teams from the NDRF. The NDRF units are equipped with satellite phones and essential emergency equipment.' It also said that the first sortie of the day, comprising 23 NDRF personnel equipped with essential supplies, has successfully proceeded towards Chaten from Pakyong Greenfield Airport. 'The deployment aims to bolster on-ground efforts in the remote region, where access has been severely hampered due to recent natural disruptions. The teams will aid in evacuation, rescue and the establishment of temporary communication lines to assist affected residents,' the release said. 'Authorities have issued directives to explore alternate foot-access routes and assess the feasibility of helipad operations, depending on prevailing weather conditions. Efforts are made to reach isolated communities and ensure timely aid,' it added. According to police, those missing are Lt Col Pritpal Sandhu, his wife Squadron Leader (retd) Arati B Sandhu and their daughter Amaria Sandhu, Subedar Dharamveer Singh, Sepoy Sainudheen PK and Sepoy Sunilal Muchahary.' The three dead have been identified as Havildar Lakhwindar Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur and porter Abhishek Lakhada. 'Roads leading to the affected area in Chaten are all closed as some bridges have been washed away by rivers. There is no mobile connectivity and police personnel from Lachen police station somehow managed to reach the spot on foot. The army and the police were carrying out rescue operations,' Sonam Detchu Bhutia, superintendent of police Mangan in North Sikkim, had said on Monday.
