2k tourists in flood-hit Sikkim to be airlifted or evacuated by road

SILIGURI/KALIMPONG: Around 2,000 tourists stranded in Sikkim's Lachung and Chungthang because of the flood will be airlifted or evacuated by road once the weather improves, a senior official said on Friday.

"There is no major destruction in Lachung, Lachen, and Chungthang. We have sent a requisition for the air force and helicopter. Once the weather improves, we will evacuate the tourists," said Sikkim chief secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak.

C S Rao, Sikkim's principal secretary of tourism and civil aviation, confirmed that the stranded tourists were safe and had access to adequate food supply. "If needed, tourists will be evacuated by road," he said.

Most tourists - around 1,200 domestic, 10 from Bangladesh, three from Nepal and two from Thailand - are stuck in Lachung; the remaining in Chungthang. Mangan DM Hem Kumar Chettri said: "Hopefully, they will be evacuated by Sunday, depending on the weather. A relief camp has been set up at Pakshep. Electricity was restored on Thursday night but mobile networks are still down."

The foundation of the new bridge at Sankalang was damaged. The bridge connects Mangan with Dzongu and Chungthang. IMD director of Gangtok Gopi Nath Raha said: "Moderate rainfall activities with a few intense spells of heavy showers are very likely to affect the districts of Sikkim from June 14 to June 18."

"We visited all the vulnerable points along NH-10 to oversee the repairs and enhancing public safety near those areas," said Kalimpong DM Bala Subramanian T, who along with the SP, PWD secretary and other senior district officials, visited Teesta bridge, Ravi Jhora, Likuveer and other affected areas.

"Both Mahananda and the Teesta under Coronation Bridge were flowing below the danger level on Friday," an official added.


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