Over 1,200 tourists stranded in Sikkim’s Mangan district due to disruption in the road and communication network will be airlifted on Sunday, weather permitting, according to an official statement by the state government. Sikkim Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia will coordinate the evacuation efforts, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
“The evacuation of tourists from Lachung would begin through airlift and roadways, depending on weather conditions,” the statement said.
According to Tourism and Civil Aviation Secretary C. S. Rao, around 1,215 tourists, including 15 foreigners, have been stranded in Lachung town for the past week, as incessant rains wreaked havoc on the road and communication network in Mangan district.
At least six people have been killed during this period due to landslides and heavy rain, which have also damaged properties and disrupted power and food supplies, as well as mobile networks, in several areas, officials said. The district administration has disbursed compensation of ₹4 lakh to the affected families.
