6 Dead, 1,200 Tourists Stranded in Sikkim After Cloudburst Triggers Flash Floods

Guwahati: A severe cloudburst in Sikkim's Mangan district on Wednesday night has resulted in the deaths of six people and left over 1,200 tourists stranded. The cloudburst, which unleashed more than 220.1 mm of rain, has caused significant damage to roads and infrastructure, making evacuation efforts challenging.

According to the state's tourism department, the stranded tourists include 15 foreign nationals: 10 from Bangladesh, three from Nepal, and two from Thailand. These tourists are currently in Lachung village, approximately 50 km from Mangan town.

Chief Secretary VB Pathak has stated that the state government is coordinating with the central government to potentially airlift the tourists, weather permitting. If airlifting is not feasible, road evacuation will be attempted, though it may take up to a week to restore road connectivity fully.

"In the landslides in Mangan District, Pakshep and Ambhithang have been badly affected with six casualties and some injuries reported. A relief camp has been set up in Pakshep. The state has announced relief for victims' families. The Mangan District Administration has been informed to issue relief funds at the earliest," Mr. Pathak said.

Regarding the evacuation, Chief Secretary Pathak explained, "We are facing difficulties in road communication at six to seven locations due to active landslides. Restoration may take five to seven days, and we have directed the Border Roads Organization and state PWD to expedite the process. We have also requested air force helicopters for evacuation, depending on weather conditions."

Mr. Pathak also addressed concerns about glacial lakes, stating that the National Disaster Management Authority is closely monitoring over 15 glacial lakes in Sikkim. "There is no imminent threat of a glacial lake outburst flood during the monsoon," he assured.

The rising water levels in the Teesta River are also a concern. "The sediments in the Teesta River following the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) are causing water levels to rise, even with normal monsoon showers. We are addressing this with the relevant ministry," Mr. Pathak noted.

Damage has been reported primarily near Mangan, with no significant impact on Lachen, Lachung, or Chungthang. In Dzongu's Sankalang village, a newly built bailey suspension bridge has been damaged by the rising river levels. Connectivity to Dzongu is expected to be restored through Dikchu town in the coming days.

Mr. Pathak assured that there is sufficient food supply for the affected areas and emphasized the importance of reopening the damaged National Highway on the Bengal side as soon as possible. Discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to expedite this process.