Sikkim Landslides: 1,000 Tourists Stranded in Lachen and Lachung

Gangtok (The Uttam Hindu): Heavy rainfall since Thursday afternoon has triggered landslides in north Sikkim, leaving around 1,000 tourists stranded in the high-altitude hill stations of Lachen and Lachung. The landslides have damaged roads at multiple locations, including near Munshithang on the Lachen-Chungthang route and Lima on the Lachung-Chungthang stretch.

Rescue Efforts Underway

Mangan Superintendent of Police, Sonam Detchu Bhutia, reported that approximately 1,500 tourists whose vehicles were stranded on the road due to landslides were accommodated in nearby villages on Thursday night. They were rescued on Friday morning and have since left for Gangtok. The tourists spent the night in various locations, including the police station, gurudwara, Indo-Tibetan Border Police camp, and local villagers' homes.

Travel Permits Cancelled

Due to the road conditions, the district administration has cancelled all travel permits for north Sikkim, including those issued in advance. Tour operators have been directed not to send tourists to the region until the situation improves.

Region's Vulnerability

Lachen was severely affected by the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, which disconnected the area for over a year. The region has recently reopened to tourists in March this year. The current landslides have raised concerns about the region's vulnerability to natural disasters.