Over a Thousand Tourists Trapped as Landslides Strike North Sikkim
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Synopsis
Heavy rainfall and landslides in North Sikkim have left over 1,000 tourists stranded, leading to canceled travel permits and severe road disruptions as authorities work to restore connectivity.
Key Takeaways
- Over 1,000 tourists trapped due to landslides.
- 200 vehicles stranded at Chungthang.
- Travel permits for North Sikkim canceled.
- Heavy rainfall causes flood-like conditions.
- IMD issues red alert for the region.
Gangtok, April 25 (NationPress) More than 1,000 tourists find themselves stranded across various sites in North Sikkim due to relentless heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides.
According to police sources, approximately 200 tourist vehicles are currently immobilized at Chungthang Gurudwara and the ITBP camp, while close to 1,000 tourists remain trapped in Lachung.
Landslides have impacted areas such as Munshithang along the Lachen Chungthang route, which had already been affected by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, in addition to Lema and Bob on the Lachung Chungthang route, located on the opposite side of Chungthang.
While the roads leading to Chungthang are open, heavy rainfall has hindered accessibility during nighttime, as per reports from the Mangan District Superintendent of Police, Sonam Dechu Bhutia.
The unyielding downpour has resulted in flood-like situations in various regions of North Sikkim, critically affecting road connectivity and travel safety.
Due to the prevailing weather and road disruptions, authorities have cancelled all travel permits for North Sikkim scheduled for today. Previously issued advanced permits have also been rendered invalid. Tour operators have been explicitly instructed not to send any tourists to North Sikkim for safety precautions.
The district administration is in the process of evaluating the damage and is striving to restore connectivity as swiftly as possible.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a red alert for the state over the next two days, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall.
In addition, officials have stated that the NHPC power plant's dams have been opened to regulate safe water levels in the reservoirs.
Last September, heavy rains in Sikkim triggered multiple landslides across various areas, resulting in significant damage to the old Rang-Rang bridge, which is regarded as the gateway to the northern region of the state. The collapse of this bridge isolated North Sikkim's Mangan district headquarters from the rest of the northeastern state. An alternative route through Dzongu was also obstructed due to damage to the Sankhalang bridge last year.
