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At least four people have died and three others remain missing after a massive landslide struck Upper Rimbi in the Yangthang Constituency of West Sikkim on Thursday night. The landslide, triggered by intense and continuous rainfall, swept through homes and farmland, leaving destruction in its wake. According to police reports, three people were killed instantly, while several others were trapped under debris or stranded due to the flooding of the Hume River. The disaster has caused panic among local residents, many of whom have been forced to evacuate their homes. Emergency teams, including police, SSB personnel, SDRF, and local volunteers, were immediately deployed to carry out rescue operations and assess the damage. The incident comes amid a week of heavy rainfall in the region, which has already caused multiple smaller landslides, highlighting the vulnerability of the area to such natural disasters.
A massive rescue operation was launched immediately, with the police coordinating with local villagers, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). To reach victims trapped by the landslide and the flooded Hume River, the rescue team constructed a temporary tree-log bridge, allowing them to evacuate two injured women safely. Both were rushed to the District Hospital in Geyzing; however, one later succumbed to her injuries, while the other remains in critical condition. Authorities continue to search for the three missing individuals, navigating unstable terrain and ongoing heavy rainfall. Local officials praised the coordinated efforts, which involved night-time operations under difficult weather conditions.
This is not the first landslide incident in Sikkim this week. On Monday night, a separate landslide hit Gyalshing district, destroying a woman’s house and resulting in her death. The victim was identified as 45-year-old Bishnu Maya Portel from Thangshing village. Police reported that heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides across the region, leading to this tragic incident. Bishnu Maya Portel’s house was completely destroyed.
Following these incidents, district officials issued a safety advisory, urging residents in landslide-prone areas to remain alert and strictly follow safety guidelines. The authorities warned that the risk of further landslides remains high due to ongoing heavy rainfall. The government continues to monitor the situation closely and has asked everyone living in vulnerable zones to take all necessary precautions.
