Gangtok: Fifteen more stranded tourists were rescued from Lachung and surrounding areas in landslide-hit Mangan district of Sikkim on Tuesday, officials said.
Officials said the district administration along with Border Roads Organization (BRO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other volunteers are taking the stranded tourists to safe places.
He said more tourists are likely to be evacuated and taken to safer places as the day progresses.
Sixty-four tourists were evacuated from Lachung in North Sikkim on Monday and taken to Mangan town, officials said.
Where roads were passable, the district administration had to install log bridges over slides to facilitate movement by foot and vehicles, he said.Incessant rains since June 12 wreaked havoc in Mangan, causing several landslides and cutting off connectivity with most parts of the district. About 1,200 tourists were stranded in Lachung town as roads were blocked at several places, officials said.
At least six people have died in Sikkim due to landslides triggered by heavy rains in the last few days. The natural disaster also damaged properties and disrupted power and food supplies and mobile networks in many areas, officials said.
He said the situation became critical after the collapse of the newly constructed suspension bridge at Sankalang as it was the main route connecting North Sikkim and Dzongu."Responding to the natural disaster, overcoming the severe weather conditions and heavy rainfall in the area, BRO initiated restoration efforts by mobilizing huge manpower and machinery to restore connectivity to North Sikkim as soon as possible," a statement said. "
It said, “The prompt and efficient response of the brave team of 758 BRTF under Project Swastika once again demonstrated their selfless commitment, resilience and determination in restoring vital connectivity and rescuing stranded tourists in North Sikkim."
Officials said the district administration along with Border Roads Organization (BRO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other volunteers are taking the stranded tourists to safe places.
He said more tourists are likely to be evacuated and taken to safer places as the day progresses.
Sixty-four tourists were evacuated from Lachung in North Sikkim on Monday and taken to Mangan town, officials said.
Where roads were passable, the district administration had to install log bridges over slides to facilitate movement by foot and vehicles, he said.Incessant rains since June 12 wreaked havoc in Mangan, causing several landslides and cutting off connectivity with most parts of the district. About 1,200 tourists were stranded in Lachung town as roads were blocked at several places, officials said.
At least six people have died in Sikkim due to landslides triggered by heavy rains in the last few days. The natural disaster also damaged properties and disrupted power and food supplies and mobile networks in many areas, officials said.
He said the situation became critical after the collapse of the newly constructed suspension bridge at Sankalang as it was the main route connecting North Sikkim and Dzongu."Responding to the natural disaster, overcoming the severe weather conditions and heavy rainfall in the area, BRO initiated restoration efforts by mobilizing huge manpower and machinery to restore connectivity to North Sikkim as soon as possible," a statement said. "
It said, “The prompt and efficient response of the brave team of 758 BRTF under Project Swastika once again demonstrated their selfless commitment, resilience and determination in restoring vital connectivity and rescuing stranded tourists in North Sikkim."
