National Desk, 17 June: Over 2,000 domestic and foreign tourists stranded in North Sikkim due to a road blockage following non-stop rain since June 14, according to officials .
According to reports, Pegong Supply Khola has obstructed the route from North Sikkim district headquarters Mangan to Chungthang causing a disruption in vehicular traffic.
1,975 domestic and 36 foreign tourists were left stranded at hotels in the Lachen and Lachung districts which are known as gates to many locations with breathtaking scenery. Twenty-three of the foreign visitors are from Bangladesh, ten are from the US and three are from Singapore.
According to the government, there were 345 four-wheelers and 11 motorcycles trapped in various locations around North Sikkim. Once the rain stops, the road clearing work will start, they added.
”On the night of 15 June 2023 and the entire day of 16 June 23, due to the heavy rainfall, the road connecting Singtam – Dikchu – Rangran – Mangan –Chungthang has seen a number of landslides and washing away of the road,” the statement from PRO, Defence added.
According to the report, devastation began on either side of Rangarang in Sikkim at around 6:15 p.m. on June 15 when landslides closed the road on both sides of the town.
”The BRO Project Swastik sent its brave Karamyogis along with their heavy earthmoving equipment immediately on sites to clear the roadblock. These BRO Karamyogis worked in heavy rain in the danger of falling slides and boulders and opened the road for traffic by about 10:00 pm at night,” it added.