Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday ordered the immediate deployment of a special team to Sikkim following a devastating accident where a tourist vehicle carrying 11 individuals plummeted over 1,000 feet into the Teesta river in North Sikkim’s Mangan district. The tragic incident, which occurred late Thursday night near Munsithang along the Lachen-Lachung highway, has left one person confirmed dead, two injured, and eight still unaccounted for. Several passengers in the ill-fated vehicle were reportedly from Odisha, prompting a swift response from the state administration.
Chief Minister Majhi personally contacted his Sikkim counterpart, Prem Singh Tamang, to gather information on the status of the missing Odia tourists. He stressed the paramount importance of ensuring their safety and providing immediate medical attention to those rescued. Furthermore, CM Majhi directed officials to make all necessary arrangements for the safe repatriation of the individuals who have been pulled to safety.
Among the eight missing is Iti Shree Jena, the secretary of the Odisha BJP Mahila Morcha, who was travelling with her family from Jajpur. Local police sources have confirmed that her son and nephew have been successfully rescued from the site of the accident. The incident has drawn widespread concern across Odisha’s political landscape. Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik conveyed his distress on X, stating, “I have learned that many Odia passengers were on the tourist bus that met with an accident in the Teesta river in Sikkim. May Lord Jagannath give strength to the families to face this challenging time. I pray for the speedy recovery of those affected by the accident.” Echoing similar sentiments, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das urged the state government to extend all possible support to the victims and their families.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with local authorities and disaster response teams working tirelessly in the challenging and rugged terrain of the region to locate the missing and provide assistance to those affected.
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