Gangtok, June 1: As the monsoon tightens its grip on North Sikkim, over 1,276 domestic tourists and two foreign nationals remain stranded in the picturesque yet now perilous valleys of Lachen and Lachung in Mangan District. The situation, triggered by continuous rainfall, landslides, and rising water levels in the Teesta River, has brought both travel and rescue efforts to a standstill.
“Evacuation was scheduled for Sunday,” confirmed Mangan SP Sonam Detchu Bhutia, “but a fresh landslide in Shipgyer, Upper Dzongu on Friday night blocked the route, forcing a delay.” With roads cut off and communication lines fragile, the region remains in a precarious state.
In Dzongu, the Phidang Bailey bridge, hastily constructed after the devastating 2023 GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood), has now suffered structural base damage due to the surging Teesta. The bridge, which acts as a lifeline connecting the isolated Dzongu constituency, is now only passable on foot.
Local authorities and GREF (General Reserve Engineer Force) managed to restore partial access for emergency services on Sunday, but the damage is extensive. “The situation is grim. If the water level keeps rising, the bridge won’t survive,” warned Mikmar Tshering Lepcha, a local resident who helped with overnight stabilisation efforts.
Amid the worsening situation, eight tourists remain missing after their vehicle plunged into the Teesta River at Munshithang on May 29. “The vehicle was initially visible but has now disappeared beneath the rising water,” SP Bhutia said. Authorities recovered some mobile phones and ID cards but no bodies. “One dead body is visible on a cliff, but it’s unreachable. Even ropes and lifeboats have failed to access it,” he added, describing the family members camping in Mangan, desperate for updates.
On the ground, frustration is mounting. Sonam Kipa Bhutia, Zilla Panchayat Upadhakshya of Mangan District, said, “The condition of roads in North Sikkim is pathetic. Around 700 to 800 tourists may still be stranded in the higher reaches. The Phidang bridge was our only hope, and even that’s now under threat.”
She added that repeated requests for reinforcement and renovation of the Phidang bridge were dismissed by district officials who claimed the structure was still usable. But with more rain forecasted over the next few months, locals fear the worst. “If the bridge fails, half of North Sikkim will be completely cut off,” she warned.
The stranded tourists and anxious locals are now in a race against time and nature. With roads buried under debris and river levels continuing to swell, hopes for swift evacuation are dimming. The IMD has warned of continued heavy rainfall in the region, compounding the difficulties.
Mangan SP has assured that evacuation will be attempted again on Monday, weather permitting. But for many in North Sikkim, it’s becoming a question of not just when — but whether — help will arrive in time
Also Read: Operation Jal Rahat-2: Assam Rifles rescues over 800 in Manipur flash floods
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