Gangtok, June 5 (UNI) The armed forces on Thursday in an effort to evacuate the stranded tourists from the landslides ravaged Lachen and Chaten in north Sikkim sent two helicopters with 9 NDRF personnel on board from the Pakyong greenfield airport, official sources said in Gangtok.

"In support of the rescue efforts on the ongoing disaster in North Sikkim, the first sortie of the day, two MI-41 and MI-39, successfully departed from Pakyong Greenfield Airport towards Chaten early Thursday morning.

"The aircraft comprises 9 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with their equipment, to provide support for ongoing disaster relief," a statement said.

Sources said the choppers flew towards the north district amid cloudy weather conditions.

On Wednesday, two attempts to fly the airlifting of the stranded tourists failed.

The distance from Pakyong in the east to Lachen is about 130 km at about 9000 ft above sea level.

The armed forces' helicopters also carried a team from the power department and telecommunication

experts with the mission to restore essential services, including telecommunications and electricity, using satellite-based technologies and portable backup batteries in areas rendered inaccessible by road.

Meanwhile, a team of police personnel from the communication branch with essential equipment are also

proceeding towards the affected areas to bridge the gap between isolation and service and restore normalcy in the lives of those affected, who have been cut from the rest of the world since May 29 when the disaster struck in the evening.

"Due to the persistent bad weather in the region, helicopter sorties from Pakyong Greenfield Airport were temporarily suspended, which delayed further evacuations.

However, as the weather conditions improved, a mission was carried out with the deployment of two

helicopters to assist in the evacuation of tourists stranded in Lachen," a media statement said.

"The deployment is to bolster on-ground initiatives in the remote region, where recent natural disruptions have significantly impacted access with the goal is to connect with isolated communities and facilitate the timely delivery of aid," the communique said.

The Sikkim government is also planning to evacuate the stranded tourists from high Lachen to safer places in phases by roads.

From the Lachen side, teams comprising the local public, Indian Army, NDRF, and GREF are actively working to construct footpaths and temporary wooden bridges to make the road safe for the stranded tourists.And from Chungthang upwards, the SDM office, along with NDRF, GREF, and local volunteers,were engaged in similar efforts to restore access and facilitate movement.

In a latest advisory all travel organizations were asked to be on standby and fully prepared to coordinate the evacuation of their tourists as soon as the route is operational and declared safe for foot-based transshipment.

About 200 tourists have been stranded at Lachen and Chaten army camps since Thursday evening when massive landslides triggered by torrents blocked the main as well other arteries, disconnecting Lachen from the rest of the world. Lachen is the last village in north district, about 110 km from Gangtok.

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