Indian Army rescues 500 stranded tourists from Landslide-hit Sikkim

The Indian army rescued 500 stranded tourists, including 54 children, from north Sikkim as torrential rain caused landslides and roadblocks in parts of the Himalayan state, a defense official said on Saturday.

Lachen, Lachung and Chungthang witnessed heavy rain on Friday.

As a result of the downpour, about 500 tourists traveling to Lachung and Lachen Valley were stranded in Chungthang due to landslides and roadblocks, he said. “On the request of SDM Chungthang, the Trishakti Corps, Indian Army swung into action and rescued the stranded tourists to safety. “The stranded tourists included 216 men, 113 women and 54 children and were relocated to three different army camps. They were provided with warm food and warm clothes," the defense spokeswoman said.

He also said: “The quick response of the troops prevented any mishap. We are trying to clear the roads for vehicle movement as soon as possible. All assistance will be provided to the tourists till the route is cleared for their onward journey.” The soldiers left the barracks to accommodate the tourists and ensure their comfort for the night, he said.

Three medical teams have been formed to check the health of all the passengers, the official said. "The initial medical examination by army medical teams found all the tourists stable," he said, adding that a woman who had visited Gurudongmar Lake complained of severe headache and dizziness.

“She had signs of acute mountain sickness and was given immediate medical attention. The woman was taken to the ICU of a medical hospital. She was stable this morning,” the official added.