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States » EastPosted at: Apr 25 2025 3:17PM


Police evacuate stranded tourists after mud-slides block roads in North Sikkim

Gangtok, Apr 25 (UNI) Over 1400 stranded tourists, mostly from West Bengal, were on Thursday evacuated after they got stuck following heavy mudslides and rockfall, triggered by downpour in North Sikkim's upper region of Lachen and lachung, about 110 km from Gangtok, official sources said.
The administration advised the stranded travellers to halt in their respective hotels until the affected roads were cleared by the roadmender agencies. Many tourists stranded in North Sikkim due to heavy mudslides have been successfully evacuated by police personnel.
"The mudslides, triggered by recent heavy rains, caused extensive damage along the Chungthang-Lachung and Chungthang-Lachen roads, cutting off access to several key tourist destinations in North Sikkim," Sikkim Police said in a statement.
The authorities confirmed that multiple stretches along these routes have been affected, making travel to Lachen and Lachung currently impossible.The altitude of Lachen and Lachung, inhabited by the tribal Bhutia community, located over 2700 mts high and surrounded by the Eastern Himalayan terrains, whichmost inaccessible for common people.
The tourists who had taken shelter in Chungthang, considerably at a lower altitude, have returned to Gangtok.
"There are about 600 tourists and about 100 vehicles present at Lachen and some 800 tourists and about 150 vehicles at Lachung. Local police have directed hoteliers and tourists to remain at their place of stay till roads are cleared," the statement said.
The district administration and local police are working round the clock to ensure the safety of tourists and expedite the repair work.
The authorities have issued an urgent travel advisory for North Sikkim following massive landslides and continuous rainfall in the region. As per information received from Mangan district Superintendent of Police Sonam Dechu Bhutia, major landslides have been reported at Munshithang on the Lachen–Chungthang road and at Lema/Bob on the Lachung–Chungthang road.
The relentless rainfall has led to flood-like conditions across parts of North Sikkim, severely impacting road connectivity and travel safety.
" In view of these developments, permits for travel to North Sikkim will not be issued for now and all previously issued permits have been officially cancelled," the report added.
All the tour operators have been strictly directed not to send any tourists to North Sikkim. The Lachen and Lachung tourists have been asked to be kept on halt at individual destinations.
UNI PC KK
Tags: #Police evacuate stranded tourists after mud-slides block roads in North Sikkim
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