Sikkim begins evacuation of stranded tourists

Evacuation of stranded tourists from Toong in Sikkim's Mangan district commenced on Monday noon after delays, officials confirmed.

 

Nine tourists have been evacuated so far, led by District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri and officials from Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Forest Departments, along with the Travel Agent Association of Sikkim (TAAS).

 

Despite challenges posed by incessant rains and landslides, the evacuation is being conducted with utmost safety and caution in batches.

 

Approximately 1200 tourists, including foreigners, have been stranded in Lachung town for a week due to road and communication network disruptions caused by heavy rains and landslides in Mangan district.

 

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working to restore road networks to ensure connectivity to and from Mangan district at the earliest.

 

Six fatalities have been reported in Sikkim due to landslides triggered by heavy rain, causing damage to properties and disrupting power, food supplies, and mobile networks in various areas.