Nature's fury in Sikkim: 1000+ tourists stranded due to massive landslide, travel permits cancelled, roads closed

Gangtok: A massive landslide in North Sikkim due to continuous heavy rainfall has created panic in the tourism sector. Landslides on the Lachen-Chungthang and Lachung-Chungthang routes in Munshithang and Lema/Bob completely blocked the roads, leaving more than 1000 tourists stranded. The Sikkim Police has cancelled all travel permits, and tourists have been advised not to travel to North Sikkim till further notice. #SikkimLandslide and #TouristsTrapped are trending on Twitter, where people are demanding immediate action from the government. Let us understand this crisis with facts.

Landslides and rain havoc

Heavy rains triggered landslides in North Sikkim's Mangan district late on April 24. According to reports by Business Standard and India Today, roads in Munshithang and Lema/Bob were clogged with debris, and many vehicles were stranded on flooded roads. In Chungthang, which is 100 km from Gangtok, around 200 tourist vehicles are stranded, and many tourists are taking shelter in a local gurudwara. Sonam Dekchu Bhutia, superintendent of police, Mangan district, said, "Due to incessant rains, movement on the Chungthang route is impossible at night. The roads are open, but travelling at night is unsafe."

Popular tourist destinations like Lachen, Lachung, and Yumthang Valley are completely cut off. The Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy rain for the next two days, hampering relief operations.

Tourist situation

Around 1,000 tourists are stranded in North Sikkim, mostly in Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung. According to a Times of India report, the district administration has directed all tour operators not to send tourists to North Sikkim. The permit cell of the Sikkim Police did not issue any new permits for April 25, and cancelled all previously issued permits.

Tourists are taking shelter in local gurdwaras, police stations, and army camps. “All tourists are safe and staying under government arrangements,” wrote @OmMathur_Raj on Twitter. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang held an emergency meeting in Mintokgang to monitor relief operations.

Relief and rescue operations

The district administration, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in relief operations. However, incessant rains have posed challenges in clearing roads and restoring connectivity. Efforts are underway to evacuate tourists by road, but helicopter rescue was not possible due to the weather, reports the Indian Express.

Repeated disasters in Sikkim

Landslides are nothing new in Sikkim. In June 2024, a landslide in Mangan district killed 9 people and more than 1200 tourists were stranded. In October 2023, the bursting of Lhonak lake led to flooding in the Teesta river, killing more than 100 people. These disasters have exposed the vulnerabilities of Sikkim's infrastructure. On X @TV9Bharatvarsh wrote, "The local administration is busy normalizing the situation, but is waiting for the rain to stop."

Public and government response

People on X are demanding swift action from the government. @DainikBhaskar wrote, “Rain and landslides put tourists in trouble in Sikkim.” Tourists appreciated the food supply and security, but many were upset over the delays. The Sikkim government assured tourists that adequate food and shelter is available.

Suggestions for the future

1. Strong infrastructure: Roads and bridges need to be made landslide-resistant.
2. Real-time weather monitoring: Better systems to give timely warnings to tourists.
3. Alternate route: Develop alternate roads to Lachen and Lachung.
4. Local coordination: Better coordination between tour operators and local administration.