Mangan, Sikkim: In a significant breakthrough for flood-hit North Sikkim, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has successfully restored road connectivity to Lachung in Mangan district. This crucial development paves the way for the long-awaited evacuation of an estimated 1,500 tourists, stranded for days following a devastating cloudburst and incessant rains. The evacuation process is set to commence today.
BRO teams worked tirelessly, battling challenging conditions to clear massive landslides and reconstruct damaged stretches of road. A particularly precarious breach near the suspension bridge at Phidang was also restored, enabling one-way vehicular movement towards Lachung. This monumental effort has opened up the Lachung-Chungthang-Shipgyere-Sanklang-Dikchu road, the lifeline for the stranded visitors.
The calamity, triggered by a sudden cloudburst on May 30, brought life in North Sikkim to a standstill. Rainfall exceeding 130mm wreaked havoc, causing extensive damage to vital road networks leading to popular tourist destinations like Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar, the Valley of Flowers, and Zero Point. Multiple formation breaches, bridge damage, and large-scale landslides along the Dikchu–Sanklang-Shipgyere Road, Chungthang-Lachen-Zeema road, and Chungthang-Lachung road had completely cut off these areas.
Adding to the woes, two critical bailey bridges along the Lachen axis, one at Minsithang and another at Zeema, were washed away, isolating Lachen town from both northern and southern sides. The raging Teesta river further compounded the crisis, eroding the earth near the bailey suspension bridge at Phidang and dangerously compromising its towers. With connectivity now partially restored, authorities are hopeful for a smooth and safe evacuation of all stranded tourists.
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