Over 200 vehicles stranded between Tsomgu and Thegu in East Sikkim were safely evacuated following sudden snowfall and a hailstorm, with the Sikkim Police and the Indian Army leading the coordinated rescue operation, officials said.
Station House Officer (SHO) of Sherathang, Yogendra Gurung, shared a video capturing the evacuation, highlighting the effective and swift response by authorities.
As a precaution, no travel permits are being issued for Nathula, located along the Indo-China border.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a generally cloudy sky with occasional spells of rain or thundershowers across several parts of Sikkim.
In North Sikkim, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has initiated restoration efforts on a war footing after massive landslides caused by a cloudburst and relentless rains severely damaged critical road infrastructure. The rainfall, which peaked at 130 mm on April 24, disrupted access to major tourist destinations including Lachen, Lachung, Gomra, the Valley of Flowers, and Zero Point.
Under Project Swastik, BRO personnel are working tirelessly in harsh conditions to restore vital road links. Despite encountering a 70-metre formation breach on the road to Lachen, efforts to reconnect the area are progressing.
By the evening of April 26, Project Swastik teams successfully reopened the road towards Lachung for one-way movement of light vehicles. The restored link is expected to assist in the safe evacuation of more than 1,000 stranded tourists from Lachung and Lachen via the Donkyala Pass.
With an early onset of the monsoon season, BRO workers continue to reinforce damaged stretches and undertake crucial surfacing works to ensure safer connectivity. Their dedicated efforts have been widely appreciated by local communities, as road infrastructure remains critical to the region’s economy and tourism.
A major landslide was reported at Munshithang on the Lachen-Chungthang road and at Lema/Bob on the Lachung-Chungthang road, further complicating travel in North Sikkim.
Continuous heavy rainfall has rendered the roads inaccessible at night. Although the road to Chungthang remains open, nighttime travel has been deemed unsafe. As a result, permits for travel to North Sikkim will not be issued on Sunday, and all previously issued advance permits have been cancelled.
Sonam Dechu Bhutia, Superintendent of Police, Mangan district, announced, “A massive landslide has occurred at Munshithang on the Lachen-Chungthang road and at Lema/Bob on the Lachung-Chungthang road. Further, it has been raining continuously in north Sikkim. The road to Chungthang is open, but due to heavy rain, it cannot be accessed at night. Hence, permits for north Sikkim will not be issued tomorrow, and all the advanced permits issued are deemed cancelled.”
Authorities have urged tourists and residents to avoid travelling on the affected routes due to the heightened risk of further landslides and road collapses.
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