Over 1,000 tourists remain stranded in the high-altitude towns of Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim following a series of landslides triggered by continuous rainfall since Thursday, according to local authorities. Meanwhile, around 1,500 tourists who were stuck overnight on the roads were rescued and brought to safety on Friday morning.
Mangan Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu Bhutia confirmed that the rescued tourists were accommodated overnight at police stations, a local gurdwara, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camps, and even local villagers’ homes after landslides blocked their route on Thursday. “They were taken out on Friday morning and have already left for Gangtok,” SP Bhutia said.
The landslides, which were reported near Munshithang on the Lachen–Chungthang route and near Lima on the Lachung–Chungthang road, have severely damaged the roads, making travel unsafe and prompting the district administration to cancel all travel permits to North Sikkim for Friday. The cancellation also applies to permits that were already issued in advance.
Tourists currently in Lachen and Lachung, who had arrived before the heavy rainfall began on Thursday, are still stuck in the region. Authorities have instructed all tour operators to avoid sending visitors to North Sikkim until further notice.
A senior district official noted the gravity of the situation and added that the landslides have significantly affected the region’s connectivity. Official communication received Thursday night confirmed the scale of the damage on key roads linking Chungthang with Lachen and Lachung.
The situation is especially critical in Lachen, which was among the worst-hit areas during the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). The town had remained disconnected for nearly one and a half years and had only reopened to tourists in March this year.
The district administration continues to monitor the weather and road conditions as efforts are underway to restore connectivity and ensure the safety of stranded tourists.
Sources By Agencies
