India News

3 dead, 6 missing as cloudburst, heavy rains hit north Sikkim; rescue operation underway

New Delhi: A deadly landslide struck the Chatten region of north Sikkim on Sunday evening, claiming at least three lives, including those of security personnel. Six others are reporting missing. Heavy rainfall and a cloudburst that occurred on the night of May 30-31 have caused massive destruction in North Sikkim. Due to the intense downpour, the water level of the Teesta River rose by 35 to 40 feet, severely damaging key roads and bridges in the region. As a result, connectivity on the Gangtok-Chungthang and Chungthang-Lachen/Lachung routes has been completely disrupted.

In view of the severity of the situation, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), under Project Swastik, has launched immediate relief and restoration operations. BRO engineers and personnel are working on a war footing to restore the damaged roads and bridges as quickly as possible.

Evacuation efforts underway

The BRO said that relief efforts are being carried out rapidly in the Gangtok-Chungthang and Chungthang-Lachen/Lachung sectors. Officers and staff are working round the clock to restore essential routes for local residents and tourists. The administration has urged people not to believe in rumours and to follow safety advisories. The situation is being closely monitored.

According to officials, around 1,500 tourists stranded in Lachung and Lachen will now be gradually evacuated. These tourists had been stuck in North Sikkim after heavy rains severely affected the region. Two bridges were also partly damaged due to the harsh weather.

Cloudburst triggers destruction

The BRO said the situation worsened after a sudden cloudburst on May 30, followed by continuous heavy rainfall. With over 130 mm of rain recorded, several important tourist routes including those to Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar, Zero Point, and the Valley of Flowers were damaged.

Landslides, road collapses, and broken bridges were reported along key roads such as the Dikchu–Sanklang–Shipgyere route, Chungthang–Lachen–Zeema road, and Chungthang–Lachung road, cutting off both Lachen and Lachung from the rest of the state.

Moreover, two vital bailey bridges near Minsithang and Zeema on the way to Lachen were washed away, isolating the town from both the north and south. Adding to the problem, strong river currents in the Teesta washed away the earth near the suspension bridge at Phidang, seriously affecting the bridge’s support structures.