Sikkim Landslides: Kills 9 people, 1,200 Tourists Rescued; School Closed - Latest Updates

As rescue operations were continued for the second day in Sikkim, 1,225 tourists from Lachung and nearby areas in the Mangan district were evacuated on Tuesday.

This comes after landslides and heavy rain last week, resulting in casualties, as reported by an official to news agency PTI.

Here's what we know about Sikkim Landslides:

• The evacuation of the remaining tourists, estimated to be a few hundred, is scheduled for Wednesday, contingent on weather conditions.
• Six helicopters have been prepared at Bagdogra airport in West Bengal for the evacuation operation, stated Additional District Magistrate Vishnu Lama.
• Stranded tourists in North Sikkim were rescued by soldiers from the Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army, in collaboration with local government authorities, on Wednesday, as reported by Hindustan Times.
• Army signalers facilitated the restoration of mobile connectivity, along with the installation of telephone booths, amid challenging weather and terrain conditions since June 18, 2024.
• District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri is overseeing the evacuation personally, with support from Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu Bhutia, senior civil and police officials, BRO, NDRF, SDRF, local panchayats, and volunteers, according to PTI.
• Government schools in Mangan district were closed on Tuesday due to concerns about student safety, following property damage and blocked roads across various clusters. Schools in multiple clusters remain closed until further notice.
• Officials noted that stranded tourists would need to walk to several spots and then use vehicles to reach Mangan district headquarters, as roads were washed out in numerous areas, as per media reports.
• Since June 13, landslides in North and South Sikkim have claimed at least nine lives, damaging houses, disrupting power and communication lines, and washing away roads and bridges alongside the rising River Teesta.
• Evacuated individuals travelled from Mangan to Gangtok using vehicles provided by the Transport Department's Motor Vehicle Division before continuing their journeys to their respective destinations, according to the ADM.