Gangtok: Two MI-17 V5 helicopters rescued 34 individuals from Chhaten and Lachen villages in Mangan district, after a major landslide on June 1 disrupted road connectivity. The first group of stranded individuals landed safely at Pakyong Greenfield Airport.
Among those rescued were injured army personnel—currently undergoing medical treatment—their family members, and tourists stranded in the area.
The first sortie of the V5 helicopter also carried 30 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to assist with the ongoing disaster response in North Sikkim. The NDRF teams are equipped with satellite phones and other emergency supplies.
According to Pravakar Rai, Director of the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), 112 tourists remain stranded in Lachen. “Plans were made to rescue them on foot or by vehicle today, but a landslide yesterday badly damaged the road from Lachen to Chhaten, which also took the lives of three army personnel,” shared Rai.
SSDMA is coordinating closely with Mangan district officials and local residents in Lachen to restore the road connection to Chhaten.
Authorities are also exploring possible walking routes from Lachen to Chhaten, where a helipad is available. From there, tourists can be airlifted to safety.
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