GANGTOK: A devastating landslide in North Sikkim has resulted in the tragic deaths of three individuals, including a labourer from Assam, and left two others injured. The incident occurred on August 19, 2025, during ongoing road construction on the Toong-Partem PT-4685 route, sending shockwaves through the local community and highlighting the perilous nature of infrastructural development in the Himalayan state.
The deadly landslide, which struck around 3:30 pm, hit a formation cutting site between Km 79.200 and Km 79.400, where personnel from the 129 RCC GREF were actively engaged in work. Among the casualties was 40-year-old Lokhiram Murmu from Assam’s Chirang district, who was part of a crew of over a dozen labourers and engineers when the massive earth and rock mass came crashing down. The identities of the other two deceased have not yet been released.
Fortunately, two individuals, Rajeev Kumar, a 47-year-old Junior Engineer, and Gurudev, a 30-year-old DES, survived the ordeal with minor injuries. They were swiftly taken to STNM Hospital in Sochagang, where they received medical attention and were subsequently discharged.
Local authorities have initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. A case has been registered at the Phodong Police Station under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, following a complaint from Avinash Chandra, an AE (Civil) with 129 RCC GREF. An inquest has been conducted by Magistrate Tashi Wangyal Bhutia, with SI Loday Tshering Lepcha leading the probe.
The bodies of the deceased are currently being held at the STNM Hospital mortuary. Technical issues have reportedly delayed the post-mortem examinations. As the investigation progresses, police have recorded statements from witnesses under Section 180 of the BNSS, 2023, as they work to piece together the sequence of events that led to this unfortunate tragedy. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks faced by those who work to build and connect India’s remote regions.
Read More: DGP Rajiv Singh Rallies Frontline Police, Assesses Security in Manipur’s Border and Valley Districts