Chief Minister Urges Vigilance and Cooperation Amidst Devastation
Key Points:
- 1,200 tourists, including 15 foreigners, stranded in Sikkim after landslides.
- Six fatalities reported due to landslides and relentless rain.
- CM Prem Singh Tamang convenes emergency meeting for crisis management.
- Authorities ensure ample food supplies for all stranded individuals.
- Plans for airlifting tourists in progress, road evacuations as a backup.
- Restoration of road connectivity and rescue operations underway.
In a shocking turn of events, over 1,200 tourists, including 15 foreigners, found themselves trapped in Sikkim's Mangan district as unrelenting rains triggered massive landslides. The devastation has claimed six lives, leaving a trail of destruction in the Himalayan state.
Principal Secretary C S Rao of the Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department revealed the dire situation: "Around 1,200 domestic and 15 foreign tourists (Thailand: 2, Nepal: 3, Bangladesh: 10) are stranded in Lachung due to road blockages caused by heavy rainfall and landslides."
Amid the chaos, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang held an urgent high-level meeting at Mintokgang to strategize the response. Local authorities have strongly advised tourists to remain in their current locations and avoid any risky movements, assuring them of adequate food supplies and rations.
The chief secretary’s office has already reached out to the Centre, discussing potential airlifts for the tourists, weather permitting. If flying out proves impossible, road evacuations will be organized. Coordination with district administration, police, and local tourism officials is in full swing to ensure the safe evacuation of those stranded.
Rao promised all possible support and assistance to the tourists, noting that while Lachung remains isolated, the rest of Sikkim is safe and accessible.
The relentless rains have caused landslides that blocked key roads, damaged homes, and swept away electricity poles, further complicating the situation.
The emergency meeting led by the Chief Minister was pivotal in devising strategies to restore normalcy and safeguard residents. Officials provided detailed reports on the damage to crucial infrastructure, especially roads and bridges essential for transportation and relief efforts. Immediate relief measures, including emergency personnel deployment and the provision of essential commodities, were also discussed.
Tamang directed officials to closely monitor the situation and expedite efforts to restore connectivity and deliver relief. He emphasized the need for ongoing assessments to identify and prioritize the most critical issues.
The Chief Minister also appealed to the public to remain vigilant, adhere to safety guidelines, and cooperate with authorities to overcome this disaster and restore normalcy.
Incessant rain has wreaked havoc in Mangan district, with landslides destroying a newly-constructed bailey bridge at Sangkalang and a bamboo bridge, leaving many tourists stranded in North Sikkim. This bailey bridge was built following a flash flood in the Teesta River last October.