Sikkim Landslides: 1,500 Tourists Stranded, 1 Dead and 8 Missing After Vehicle Falls Into Teesta River in North Sikkim

Sikkim Landslides: Heavy rainfall and a series of landslides have left nearly 1,500 tourists stranded in North Sikkim, while the search operation for eight missing individuals has been suspended due to worsening weather and a dangerously swollen Teesta River. The region has been battered by continuous downpours, resulting in road blockages and infrastructural disruptions that have isolated several parts of the district.

The tragedy unfolded on Thursday night when a Vehicle carrying 11 tourists plunged over 1,000 feet into the Teesta River near Munsithang along the Lachen-Lachung highway in Mangan district. One tourist lost their life, two others were rescued and are currently receiving medical treatment at STNM Hospital in Gangtok, and eight remain missing. The search operation, which was actively ongoing despite difficult conditions, had to be called off on Saturday as rainfall intensified and river levels rose, making rescue efforts dangerous and ineffective.

Sikkim Landslides: 1 Dead and 8 Missing

Among the missing are four tourists from Odisha—Ajit Kumar Nayak, Sunita Nayak, Sahil Jena, and Itshiri Jena—two from Tripura—Debjyoti Joy Dev and Swapnanil Deb—and two from Uttar Pradesh—Kaushalendra Pratap Singh and Ankita Singh. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Passang Denu Sherpa from Singhik in North Sikkim, is also among those unaccounted for.

Mangan Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu Bhutia confirmed that the search will resume as soon as weather conditions improve. So far, the search team has recovered four identity cards and six mobile phones from the riverbanks, offering some clues but little hope amid the relentless downpour. District Collector Anant Jain is currently stationed at the accident site, personally overseeing rescue operations.

Meanwhile, the larger crisis has affected 115 tourists in Lachen and around 1,350 in Lachung, all stranded due to landslides that have blocked exit routes on both sides. Tourists have been advised to stay in their hotels until the roads are cleared and it is safe to move. Officials stated that while the Lachung road has been restored, the route from Pegong (Chungthang) to Phidang via Shipgyer and Sangkalang remains impassable.

The region continues to face challenges in restoring basic services. Power, which had been disrupted on Friday afternoon, was finally restored on Saturday evening. Efforts are ongoing to fully restore the drinking water supply by Sunday. Mobile network connectivity was also reinstated around 3 p.m. on Saturday after nearly 24 hours of blackout.

Due to the risk posed by the weather and road conditions, the district administration has suspended the issuance of tourist permits to North Sikkim for the time being. Authorities are urging all travelers to avoid the region until further notice.

The situation remains tense and uncertain, with families of the missing holding on to hope. As North Sikkim grapples with this crisis, rescue teams are on standby, waiting for a break in the weather to resume their search for the eight missing individuals.