The pristine valleys of North Sikkim, known for their majestic beauty and serene landscapes, have turned into zones of chaos and despair as relentless rainfall triggered landslides and road blockages, leaving around 1,500 tourists stranded. What was meant to be a peaceful getaway has quickly spiraled into a state of emergency, with rescue teams battling time and terrain to bring people to safety.
Tourist havoc in North Sikkim
According to the administration, the road connecting Chungthang to the tourist hotspots of Lachen and Lachung has been the most severely impacted by the landslides. Continuous downpours over the past few days have caused massive disruptions across the Mangan district. Around 115 tourists are stuck in Lachen, while an overwhelming 1,350 remain stranded in Lachung, with no safe exit due to multiple landslides.
Rising teesta halts rescue operations for missing tourists
In a heartbreaking incident, a tourist vehicle carrying 11 people fell into the swelling Teesta river in Mangan on Thursday night. While one person died and two were injured, the remaining eight went missing. The rescue operation, initially launched swiftly, had to be halted due to the rising water level of the Teesta and worsening weather conditions. Authorities recovered four identity cards and six mobile phones from the riverbank signs of the missing individuals.
Power, water, and connectivity disrupted amid torrential rains
Mangan District Collector Anant Jain has confirmed that the search for the missing tourists will resume as soon as weather conditions improve. Jain, present at the site of the accident, said that the overflowing Teesta and continuous rain have made search efforts too dangerous for now.
Search operations to resume once weather clears
Adding to the ordeal, locals and tourists have been grappling with suspended essential services. A power outage that lasted nearly 24 hours was restored on Friday evening, but drinking water supply and mobile connectivity are still inconsistent. The road to Lachung, blocked earlier by a cloudburst, was reopened later in the day, offering a small ray of hope.
As the region waits for relief, the administration continues to appeal for calm and advises all stranded individuals to remain where they are until roads are cleared and conditions stabilize.
