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A sudden flood and landslide crisis in North Sikkim has left over 100 tourists stranded in the hill town of Lachen. Due to heavy rainfall and dangerous conditions, tourist passes have been temporarily stopped. A special helicopter from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been sent to help with rescue work. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered full support during this difficult time.
Communication cut off in North Sikkim
The situation in North Sikkim is serious as roads have been blocked and communication networks are down. According to the Sikkim tourism department, Lachen and Lachung have become unreachable because of several landslides. One major landslide struck near the Chhorten army camp, blocking access to these popular tourist destinations.
Floods after cloudburst
The floods began after a cloudburst during the night of May 30-31. This caused the Teesta River to swell by 30 to 40 feet, leading to even more damage. The sudden rise in water level made rescue efforts more difficult and added to the region's troubles.
NDRF team lands in Sikkim
To manage the disaster, a V5 helicopter carrying 23 NDRF personnel landed at Pakyong Airport. These trained experts have brought satellite phones and essential rescue equipment. They are working closely with the local administration to handle the crisis and find safe ways to reach the stranded tourists in Lachen.
Tourist rescue efforts underway
Rescue teams are now exploring different methods to evacuate the tourists safely. The situation remains tough because of blocked roads and continued bad weather, but authorities are trying their best to make sure everyone is safe.
PM Modi offers help
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, and Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla to talk about the impact of the heavy rainfall and floods in the Northeast. He promised full support from the central government to help in rescue and recovery operations.
This ongoing natural disaster shows how vulnerable places like North Sikkim are during the monsoon season. The floods have affected not only the lives of tourists but also local residents. With support from the central and state governments, as well as the NDRF, there is hope that the situation will be brought under control soon, and those stranded will return home safely.
