Landslides hit Sikkim last week, causing heavy rain and destruction. Nine people have died, and many areas are damaged. Rescue operations have been ongoing for two days. On Tuesday, the state government evacuated 1,225 tourists from Lachung and nearby areas. These areas are in the Mangan district. Officials brought the tourists to Mangan town by road. A few hundred tourists are still stranded. If the weather is good, they will be evacuated on Wednesday. Six helicopters are ready at Bagdogra airport in West Bengal for this mission. Soldiers from the Indian Army and local authorities are helping in the Sikkim landslide rescue.
Due to landslides, many roads are blocked. Tourists are walking or using vehicles where possible. The Indian Army has restored mobile connectivity in affected areas. They set up telephone booths to help people contact their families.
District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri is leading the rescue efforts. Many officials, including the Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu Bhutia, are working hard to rescue stranded people. Various organizations and volunteers are also helping.
On Tuesday, the Mangan district administration closed all government schools. This is to keep students safe. The schools will stay closed until further notice. Roads in the district are badly damaged, making travel difficult. Since June 13, landslides have killed at least nine people in North and South Sikkim. The landslides damaged houses, disrupted power and communication lines, and destroyed roads and bridges. The rising River Teesta has added to the damage.
The rescued tourists traveled from Mangan to Gangtok using vehicles provided by the Transport Department. They then continued their journey to their destinations.