Due to continuous rain, landslides have trapped more than 1,000 tourists in Lachen and Lachung, two hill stations in North Sikkim. The incident began on Thursday, a senior police officer said on Friday.

Tourists Rescued Overnight

Meanwhile, police rescued about 1,500 other tourists who got stuck on the roads. Their vehicles could not move forward due to debris. As a result, local people offered them shelter.

Some tourists spent the night at the police station, a gurudwara, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp, or with villagers. “They were taken out on Friday morning and have already left for Gangtok,” Bhutia told Hindustan Times.

Rainfall Causes Severe Road Damage

Moreover, the rain triggered landslides that damaged roads in several areas. According to officials, landslides hit near Munshithang on the Chungthang–Lachen route and near Lima on the Chungthang–Lachung road.

Some Tourists Still Trapped

However, many tourists who were already in Lachen and Lachung when the rain began are still stranded. The landslides have made travel unsafe.

Authorities Cancel Permits

As a precaution, the district administration cancelled all travel permits to North Sikkim for Friday. This includes permits that were issued earlier. In addition, officials instructed tour operators not to send tourists to the region until the situation improves.

Landslide Zones Identified

Later, an official report confirmed major landslides at Munshithang and Lema (also called Bob). These spots lie on key roads connecting Chungthang with Lachen and Lachung.

Lachen Reopened Recently

Previously, Lachen was one of the worst-hit areas in the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood. It remained cut off for nearly 18 months. Finally, in March this year, it reopened to tourists.