NewKerala.com

1,500 Tourists Stranded in Sikkim's Lachen, Evacuation Via 17,000-ft Pass

Approximately 1,500 tourists and hundreds of vehicles are stranded in Lachen, Sikkim, following a road breach. The evacuation process has begun, with plans to reroute tourists through the high-altitude Dongkya La Pass. Multiple agencies, including the BRO, ITBP, and Indian Army, are coordinating snow clearance and rescue efforts. This incident follows a similar stranding of tourists in Chungthang just weeks earlier.

Key Points: Tourists Stranded in Sikkim, Evacuation via Dongkya La Pass

  • 1,500 tourists stranded in Lachen
  • Road breach near Tarum Chu Bridge
  • Evacuation via 17,000-ft Dongkya La Pass
  • Multi-agency rescue operation underway
  • Similar incident occurred in March
2 min read

Sikkim: Around 1,500 tourists stranded in Lachen, evacuation process underway

1,500 tourists stranded in Lachen, Sikkim after road breach. Evacuation underway via high-altitude Dongkya La Pass with multi-agency coordination.

"The evacuation process has started today under the close coordination of the concerned authorities. - Anant Jain"

Mangan, April 6

Around 1,500 tourists, along with approximately 169 vehicles and 79 bikes, are currently stranded in Sikkim's Lachen following the temporary closure of the Lachen axis due to a road breach near Tarum Chu Bridge.

According to the Mangan District Collector Anant Jain, the evacuation process has started today under the close coordination of the concerned authorities. However, due to the blockage on the Lachen-Chungthang road, tourists cannot be brought down through the usual route at present.

As an alternative, the stranded tourists are planned to be evacuated through the Dongkya La Pass, which is located at an altitude of over 17,000 feet, and then moved towards Lachung and Gangtok. At present, snow clearance work is actively going on along the Dongkya La route to make the road safe and accessible for evacuation.

According to the District Administration, Mangan, the Lachen axis has been temporarily closed due to a breach in road formation near Tarum Chu Bridge. The District Administration, along with Police, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and the Indian Army, is actively coordinating efforts to ensure swift snow clearance and safe evacuation of tourists from Lachen, Dongkya La, Lachung to Gangtok.

The state government said, all road agencies are working on a war footing to expedite snow clearance. It also urged all individuals to exercise caution, remain indoors as far as possible, and strictly follow instructions issued by local authorities.

Earlier on March 25, another similar incident took place when around 150-200 tourists were left stranded in Chungthang after multiple landslides were triggered by heavy rainfall in North Sikkim, according to DC Anant Jain.

Jain said the landslides occurred along key routes connecting Gangtok to Lachen and Chungthang to Lachen, leaving tourists en route to Lachen stuck at Chungthang.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
This is the second such incident in North Sikkim in just two weeks! While the rescue efforts are commendable, the state tourism and PWD departments need to seriously look at the road infrastructure. These are popular tourist routes. Frequent breaches and landslides are a major safety concern.
D
David E
I was in Sikkim last year. The roads in the mountains are beautiful but fragile. Hats off to the Border Roads Organisation. Building and maintaining those roads at that altitude is a superhuman task. Hope the evacuation via the high-altitude pass goes smoothly.
A
Ananya R
My cousin is among those stranded. The family is in constant touch and the local administration is providing updates and essentials. It's a scary situation but we have full faith in our forces. Jai Hind to our ITBP and Army jawans working in that freezing cold! ❄️🇮🇳
V
Vikram M
This highlights why travel insurance is non-negotiable for Himalayan trips. The terrain is unpredictable. Tourists must also check weather advisories before heading to such remote areas. That said, kudos to Collector Anant Jain and his team for the coordinated response.
S
Sarah B
The article says they are working on a "war footing". That's the kind of urgency needed. Sikkim is a jewel of India and its safety is paramount. Hope all tourists listen to the authorities and stay patient. The rescue teams know the mountains best.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50