Landslide at Army Camp in Sikkim Kills 3, 6 Soldiers Missing; Over 1500 Tourists Stranded. Relief Efforts Underway.
Sikkim Landslide: Heavy rainfall has caused severe devastation in Sikkim. A landslide at an army camp in North Sikkim on Sunday, June 1st, 2025, resulted in the death of three people, including two soldiers. Six soldiers are missing, and a large-scale search operation is underway.
Reports indicate that around 7 PM on Sunday, a large section of a mountain collapsed in the Chatten area of North Sikkim due to heavy rainfall. This caused significant damage to the army camp and surrounding areas. Three people, including two Indian Army soldiers and a porter, died after being buried under the debris. Four soldiers were injured, and six remain missing.
Over 1500 Tourists Stranded
The landslide and heavy rainfall have completely cut off access to tourist destinations like Lachung and Lachen in Sikkim. Sonam Dechu Bhutia, SP of Mangan district, reported that approximately 115 tourists are stranded in Lachen and 1350 in Lachung. Roadblocks are hindering evacuation efforts.
Authorities state that BRO teams have swiftly initiated relief operations. Road connectivity to Lachung has been restored. Debris removal and road clearance are ongoing, with efforts focused on evacuating stranded tourists.
Road Connectivity Restoration Underway
The BRO reported that the Lachung-Chungthang-Shipjiere-Shankalang-Dikchu road has been partially reopened following the landslide. Cracks near the suspension bridge in Fidang have been filled to facilitate evacuation routes. Officials say that tourists will be gradually evacuated starting today.
Major Disaster Last Week
On May 30th, 2025, a cloudburst occurred in the northern part of Sikkim, recording over 130 mm of rainfall. This disaster severely damaged roads leading to major tourist destinations like Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar, the Valley of Flowers, and Zero Point. Several bridges and roads were damaged.
According to BRO officials, significant debris accumulation is present on the Dikhu-Sinkalang-Shipgier road, Chungthang-Leshen-Jemma road, and Chungthang-Lachung road. Debris removal and road repair work is being expedited in these areas.
Weather Department Alert and Administration Preparedness
The meteorological department has issued a warning of more rainfall in the hilly areas of Sikkim in the coming days. A high alert has been declared by the administration, and relief efforts are being accelerated. The army, BRO, and local administration officials are jointly engaged in relief and rescue operations.
Appeal to Tourists and Locals
The administration has appealed to tourists and local citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and remain in safe locations. In the event of a disaster, they are urged to remain calm and follow the instructions of the administration.
