Sikkim Floods: Evacuation Of 1,200 Stranded Tourists Likely to begin Today
Roads & Bridges Department Minister N B Dahal reached Lachung and interacted with the tourists and heard their grievances and assured a safe evacuation at the earliest.
More than 1,200 tourists, including 15 foreigners, have been stranded in Lachung town due to the landslides. The Border Roads Organisation has been working to clear the roads and restore connectivity with North Sikkim.
In Sikkim, bad weather has hampered the evacuation of around 2,000 tourists including 15 foreigners, stranded in Lachung and Chungthang in Mangan District following landslides. Efforts were made today to airlift the stranded tourists but it could not be implemented due to bad weather and road blocks due to landslides.
Mangan District Collector Hem Kumar Chettri told Akashvani News that all the stranded tourists are safely placed at hotels adding that once the weather condition permits, all possible arrangements will be made to ensure their safe return.
Meanwhile, relief and restoration operations are on in full swing, particularly in the worst-affected Mangan District. State Forest and Environment Minister Pintso Namgyal Lepcha along with senior district administration officials visited the affected areas in Lower Jhushing and Ralak wards. Around 10 households have been relocated to temporary accommodation for their safety.
The incessant rains and landslides in the State have so far claimed nine lives and left around 2,000 tourists stranded in Mangan district. The heavy rainfall has damaged several key roads of the State. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is making urgent efforts to restore connectivity as quickly as possible.
The heavy rains in Sikkim have led to multiple landslides and breaches, disrupting connectivity. A significant challenge is the 180-meter-wide breach near Dikchu, which BRO is repairing by bringing pre-cast culverts from Kalimpong in West Bengal. The BRO is engaging around 700 personnel and using 20 excavators to repair the breach and clear other landslides to restore connectivity to Mangan in North Sikkim.
Project SWASTIK of BRO, acting as the first responder, has deployed extensive manpower and machinery, clearing about ten kilometres of the Dikchu-Sanklang-Toong road. Efforts are also underway on the Gangtok-Chungthang road, restoring connectivity between Naga and Lanthakhola.
