Over 1,200 tourists, including 15 foreigners, have been stranded due to massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in northern Sikkim's Mangan district, an official reported on Friday. The severe weather has claimed at least six lives, causing widespread damage to properties and disrupting road connectivity, power and food supplies, and mobile networks across several areas of the Himalayan state.
"As per the ground report, around 1,200 domestic and 15 foreign tourists (Thailand:2, Nepal:3, Bangladesh:10) are stranded in Lachung, Mangan district, due to road blockages caused by heavy rainfall and landslides," Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department's Principal Secretary C S Rao said in a statement.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang chaired a high-level meeting in Mintokgang to assess the situation, according to another official. Local authorities have urged stranded tourists to stay in their respective locations and avoid taking risks, said the official. He also assured that there are adequate food supplies and rations to cater to all the stranded tourists.
The office of the Chief Secretary has initiated talks with the Centre regarding the airlifting of all stranded tourists, contingent on weather conditions, he added. If required, the tourists will be evacuated by road, and the department is "working in close coordination with the district administration, police and tourism officials in Mangan" along with the local tourism stakeholders for the safe evacuation of those stranded there, he said.
Incessant rain triggered landslides in several locations in Mangan district on Thursday, causing the collapse of a newly-constructed bailey bridge at Sangkalang and leaving a large number of tourists stranded in North Sikkim. Additionally, a bamboo bridge was destroyed, officials reported.