Northeast Desk, 11th October: A total of 176 tourists were airlifted from North Sikkim on October 10, an area heavily impacted by a flash flood in the Teesta River.
Since Monday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully evacuated 690 individuals, including 26 foreigners, from the towns of Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim. They employed Mi-17 V5, CH-47 Chinooks, and Cheetah helicopters for these rescue missions.
In response to the flash floods in Sikkim, the IAF has taken swift action to evacuate those stranded and provide essential supplies to remote areas.
Collaborating closely with the civil administration, the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, and IAF are committed to ongoing rescue operations. Chief Secretary VB Pathak mentioned that an additional 499 people were transported from North Sikkim to Mangan through alternative means, subsequently traveling to Gangtok in state-run buses and private taxis. He noted that nearly 1,200 people have been relocated from the North Sikkim district to date.