At least 1,000 tourists in Lachen and Lachung, two mountain hill stations in north Sikkim, still remain stranded by landslips in the area since Thursday, a senior police officer of the district said on Friday.
Rescue Operations for Stranded Tourists in Sikkim
Mangan SP Sonam Detchu Bhutia stated that nearly 1,500 more tourists, whose cars were stuck on the road as a result of the landslides, were taken in by neighboring villages on Thursday night, and were rescued on Friday. They overnighted at locations like the police station, gurudwara, Indo-Tibetan Border Police camp and in a few instances, were welcomed by local villagers.
“They were taken out on Friday morning and have already left for Gangtok,” Bhutia told.
The district police chief informed that landslides caused by incessant rain since Thursday afternoon have damaged roads at several locations near Munshithang on the route to Lachen from Chungthang and near Lima on the route to Lachung from Chungthang.
Tourists Remain Stranded in Lachen and Lachung
A district official stated that tourists, who were in Lachen and Lachung when heavy rains began on Thursday, remain in the hill stations.
The official further stated that all the travel permits for north Sikkim for Friday have been cancelled, including those already issued in advance because of the road condition. The district administration has instructed tour operators not to take tourists to north Sikkim under any circumstances until the situation improves.
Major Landslides Reported in Sikkim
As per an official communication received on Thursday evening, extensive landslides have been reported on Munshithang on the Lachen–Chungthang road and at Lema/Bob on the Lachung–Chungthang road.
Lachen was one of the destinations in Sikkim worst affected by the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood. It was isolated for nearly one and half years. It was opened to tourists this year from March.
