The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

Six killed, 1,500 tourists stranded as landslides, rain wreak havoc in Sikkim

AT LEAST six people were killed, five are missing and 1,500-odd tourists have been stranded as massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfall caused devastatio­nin northern sikkim' s man gan district, officials said on Thursday.

Landslides blocked stretches of roads and several houses were inundated or damaged, while electricit­y poles were swept away, they said. The situation has worsened with the overflowin­g Teesta River inundating the Melli Stadium in south Sikkim, while several people have been left homeless, the official said.

North Sikkim has been completely isolated due to the landslides­on national highway 10, the lifeline connecting the region to Kalimpong in West Bengal.

A newly-constructe­d bailey bridge at Sangkalang collapsed snapping the link between Mangan with Dzongu and Chungthang. The towns of Dz ongu, chung t hang, lac hen, and Lachung in Mangan district known for popular tourist spots like Gurudongma­r Lake and Yunthang Valley have now been cut off from there st of the country.

Mangan District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri convened an urgent meeting with all the heads of various department­s to mitigate the situation. “Three persons each died in Pakshep and Ambhithang villages,” he said said. A number of houses have been damaged ingeythang,ro ads have been blocked at Nampathang near Pentok, a police outpost in Bringbong was shifted to a different location, officials informed. Meanwhile, a relief camp has been setup at Pakshep for the displaced people, Chettri said.

Mobile network services were affected in North Sikkim even as a request was made by the district administra­tion to send an SDRF team with ration to Mangan, the officials said.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has directed the North district administra­tion, the police and officials of other department­s to ensure a swift responseto the devastatio­n .“efforts are underway to provide every possible support to the victims and affected families, including recovery assistance, temporary settlement, and the provision of basic needs. The state government stands firmly with the victims of this unfortunat­e incident, pledging the utmost support to the bereaved families and all those affected and displaced by the landslides,” Tamang said from A run ac hal pradesh. the state government is yet to determine the extent of the damage and the number of casualties.