GANGTOK, SIKKIM: In a dramatic airlift operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has evacuated over 1,500 tourists stranded in North Sikkim after torrential rains triggered landslides, severing road access to the popular hubs of Lachen and Lachung. While rescue teams battle adverse weather to restore connectivity, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has issued a clear message: “Sikkim is open for tourism, just avoid the North for now.”
The crisis began on May 30 when relentless monsoon rains caused the Phidang Bridge, North Sikkim’s critical lifeline, to collapse, isolating thousands. A devastating landslide at the Chaten Army camp compounded the disaster, killing nine personnel and leaving six missing, including Lieutenant Colonel Pritpal Singh Sandhu and his family.
The Rescue: How 1,500 Were Brought to Safety
Evacuations began in earnest on June 5, with IAF Mi-17 helicopters shuttling between Chaten’s makeshift helipad and Pakyong Greenfield Airport. The first sortie airlifted 39 tourists, followed by a second batch of 20, including two foreign nationals. Smaller Cheetah helicopters extracted four high-priority evacuees while SNT buses stood ready at Pakyong to transport survivors to Gangtok or Siliguri.
Key Challenges:
- Weather Delays: Persistent rain grounded flights for 48 hours, slowing evacuations.
- Terrain: Lachen, at 9,000 feet, required foot patrols to reach 113 stranded tourists before airlifts could begin.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Satellite tech and portable batteries were airdropped to restore power and telecoms in the cut-off zone.
NDRF teams remain on-site, clearing debris and constructing temporary footbridges to evacuate those still stranded.
The Bigger Picture: Sikkim is Still Open
Despite the North’s closure, CM Tamang emphasized that 90% of Sikkim remains accessible, including Gangtok, Namchi, and Yuksom. “Only Lachen and Lachung are shut. Our six districts have pristine lakes, monasteries, and treks waiting to be explored,” he stated.
Where to Go Instead:
- West Sikkim: Kanchenjunga base camp treks from Yuksom (current occupancy: 80%) 11.
- South Sikkim: Ravangla’s Buddha Park and Temi Tea Garden.
- East Sikkim: Gangtok’s Rumtek Monastery and MG Marg cafes.
Tourism Secretary M.L. Rao confirmed that only 25 of 200+ tourist sites are affected, urging visitors to reroute plans rather than cancel.
Rebuilding for the Future
The state and central governments are collaborating on long-term fixes:
- Bridge Audits: Engineers are assessing 15 vulnerable bridges, with reinforcements prioritized for monsoon resilience.
- Pakyong Airport Revival: Union Minister Pabitra Margherita announced plans to resume flights at the dormant airport, which is critical for emergency and tourism access.
What Tourists Need to Know
- Permits: Restricted-area permits (for North Sikkim) are paused; others require checkpoint checks.
- Safety: Avoid landslides-prone NH-10; use alternate routes via Jorethang.
- Support Locals: Booking homestays in open areas aids recovery.
Final Word: A Call for Responsible Travel
As Sikkim rebuilds, its message is clear: Visit, but visit wisely. With heroism in the North and hospitality elsewhere, this Himalayan state is writing a comeback story, one that travellers can be part of.
