Sikkim: 1,500 Tourists Stranded In Lachen, Rescue Operations Ongoing - Northeast Today

Mangan, Apr 6: Around 1,500 tourists, along with 169 vehicles and 79 motorcycles, are stranded in Lachen following a road breach near Tarum Chu Bridge that led to the temporary closure of the Lachen route.

District Collector Anant Jain stated that evacuation operations began on Monday under the coordination of local authorities.

With the Lachen–Chungthang road remaining blocked, authorities have initiated an alternative evacuation plan through the high-altitude Dongkya La Pass, located at over 17,000 feet, to facilitate movement towards Lachung and Gangtok.

Snow clearance work is ongoing along this route to enable safe passage.

The Mangan district administration, in coordination with police, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and the Indian Army, is conducting operations to clear routes and assist those stranded in Lachen, Dongkya La, Lachung, and areas en route to Gangtok.

The state government said that road-clearing agencies have been deployed to expedite snow removal operations. It has advised residents and tourists to remain indoors, exercise caution, and follow official instructions.

The situation follows a similar incident on March 25, when 150 to 200 tourists were stranded in Chungthang due to landslides caused by heavy rainfall along the Gangtok–Lachen and Chungthang–Lachen routes, according to the district administration.