Rescue Operations Evacuate Tourists Stranded in North Sikkim Landslide

Gangtok, June 6 (PTI) Rescue operations commenced on Friday morning to evacuate 47 remaining tourists stranded in Chaten, North Sikkim, following a landslide. Initially, 17 out of the 64 tourists were successfully evacuated. They were flown to Pakyong via helicopter, according to officials.

"Today’s first evacuation flight was successful, airlifting 17 individuals from Chaten to Greenfield Airport, Pakyong," stated an official. A total of 47 people are still stranded, and the government is prioritizing their evacuation using helicopters at the earliest opportunity.

The state government has facilitated transportation, arranging buses to ferry the evacuees from the airport to Gangtok, where they will continue their onward journeys. Health and Family Welfare Department personnel were also stationed at the airport to conduct initial medical examinations for the rescued individuals.

Rescue efforts resumed with three helicopters departing from Pakyong Greenfield Airport to Chaten, a landslide-affected area. On Thursday, 63 people, primarily tourists, were airlifted from Chaten as part of the evacuation efforts. However, operations were temporarily suspended due to adverse weather conditions and challenging terrain, officials noted.

The continuation of rescue missions is contingent upon weather conditions and operational feasibility. In addition to the tourist evacuations, efforts are ongoing to locate soldiers who went missing after a landslide struck a military camp at Chaten on the evening of June 1. This calamity resulted in the tragic deaths of three army personnel, while several others sustained injuries.

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