According to reports, landslides triggered by incessant rainfall have once again impacted northern Sikkim, prompting closure of the road connecting Lachen and Lachung.
• A large portion of the road was washed away, snapping off connectivity between Sankelan and Phidang, resulting which several tourists have been stranded, triggering panic among visitors.
• Over hundred tourist vehicles got stuck near the Sankelan bridge on Tuesday night (20 May). In the wake of the current situation, fresh permits were not issued to tourists in north Sikkim on Wednesday (21 May) as well while permits that were issued online have also been cancelled. The district administration has stated that permits will not be issued if the situation remains unchanged.
• Following multiple landslides, tourists were also stranded on Dzungur road while trying to take an alternate route. Although some vehicles were evacuated, many stranded tourists were left in panic.
• The Sikkim administration has already started repairing roads in Lachen and Lachung areas. Disaster response teams have been deployed to rescue the stranded tourists. After repairing the roads in Phidang and Sankelan, work will be started to divert them back to Gangtok.
