Tragedy struck the Indian Army in Sikkim as a massive landslide, triggered by relentless rainfall, swept through a military camp at Chaten in Lachen town on Sunday evening. The calamity claimed the lives of three personnel and left six others missing, while rescue teams continue to battle adverse weather and terrain in a desperate search for survivors.
The Indian Army confirmed the recovery of the mortal remains of Havaldar Lakhbindar Singh, Lance Naik Manish Thakur, and civilian porter Abhishek Lakra. Four other individuals were rescued with minor injuries.
Senior military officials, including Lt Gen Zubin Minawalla, General Officer Commanding of the Trishakti Corps, visited the site to personally oversee the ongoing rescue efforts. The Army extended its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and assured that every possible measure is being taken to support them in their time of grief.
The region has been battered by continuous rainfall, leading to multiple disruptions and disasters across the state. The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department of Sikkim announced that the vital Chungthang–Phidang road in Mangan District has been restored, enabling the evacuation of stranded tourists to begin safely.
The large-scale evacuation operation is being executed under the close coordination of the District Administration and Police, with vital support from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Indian Army, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF), and medical and fire service teams.
Local organizations including the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco-tourism (IHCAE) Chemchey, Driver Association, and numerous volunteers are also playing a key role in the rescue and relief efforts.
