Mangan (Sikkim) [India], June 2: The Chungthang-Phidang road in Mangan District has been restored, allowing authorities to begin the evacuation of stranded tourists following recent rain-induced landslides and flooding, the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department of Sikkim announced on Monday.
The evacuation is being carried out under the supervision of the District Police and Administration, with assistance from multiple agencies including the ITBP, Indian Army, BRO, NDRF, GREF, TAAS, the IHCAE Chemchey, the Driver Association, and local volunteers. This operation follows heavy rains and flooding in the Teesta River, which had left over 1,000 tourists stranded in areas like Lachen and Lachung.
Search Continues for Missing Tourists
The search operation remains ongoing for nine tourists missing since a vehicle accident in Mangan District on May 29. Superintendent of Police Dechu Bhutia confirmed that efforts to locate the missing are underway, though challenges persist due to high river levels and rough terrain.
“The vehicle was visible earlier, but rising waters have made it impossible to locate now,” said Bhutia. “We have recovered mobile phones and ID cards, but no trace of the individuals yet. One body was spotted on a cliff, but it is in a dangerously inaccessible location.”
Infrastructure Damage and Delays
The Phidang bridge, a crucial connection to the Dzongu constituency, suffered structural base damage, halting vehicular movement. GREF restoration teams enabled limited foot access by Sunday. Landslides, particularly one in Shipgyer in Upper Dzongu, had also delayed evacuation efforts over the weekend.
Weather Outlook and IMD Warning
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned on May 30 that a depression over Bangladesh is expected to weaken, but very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall may continue in parts of northeast India. Rainfall is expected to persist until June 5, and no significant change in temperatures is predicted.