A major fire late on Friday night destroyed the historic Thangu Sertok Gumpa in North Sikkim and gutted two nearby residential houses, causing extensive damage and leaving the local community in shock.
According to reports, the blaze broke out at around 11 pm on 5 June and spread rapidly through the monastery complex. Residents rushed to the scene and attempted to contain the fire, but were unable to save the structure or its contents.
Two houses located near the monastery were also completely destroyed in the incident.
Built around 1965, Thangu Sertok Gumpa was regarded as an important religious and cultural landmark in the region. The monastery held deep spiritual significance for the people of Lachen and surrounding areas and was a prominent centre of Buddhist heritage in North Sikkim.
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The loss of the monastery has triggered an outpouring of grief among local residents, many of whom described it as an irreplaceable part of the region’s cultural and religious identity.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Authorities are expected to conduct an assessment of the damage and investigate the circumstances that led to the blaze.
No casualties have been reported so far.
The destruction of the decades-old monastery marks a significant loss for the region’s cultural heritage and religious community.
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