Torrential rain triggered multiple landslides in West Sikkim district, damaging nearly 100 houses, sweeping away bridges and casuing havoc for tourists in the area. An orange alert has been sounded for heavy rain and thunderstorms in northeast India for the next three days.
The downpour caused flash floods along the upper reaches of College Khola Valley, causing maximum impact at Simphok, where a major bridge was swept away, officials said on Sunday.
The Dentam Sub Division under Gyalshing district also bore the brunt of the landslides, as houses and roads were damaged, the officials said. Agricultural land and livestock have also been affected.
A suspension bridge over College Khola at Lower Sapung has been washed away due to the mudslides, too, they said. Authorities provided immediate relief to those affected, the officials said, adding, restoration work of roads and bridges has been started.
Rescue operations
The Indian Army rescued 300 more tourists who were stranded in North Sikkim district due to landslides and roadblocks, an official statement said.
The troops of Striking Lion Division, Trishakti Corps on Sunday assisted 300 stranded tourists at Chungthang in North Sikkim to cross over the temporary bridge for further move towards the state capital Gangtok, it said.
The stranded tourists were provided food, resting place and medical comfort by the Army. On Saturday, the troops of the Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army assisted the Sikkim government in rescuing 3,500 tourists who were stranded in the North Sikkim district, the statement said.
Meanwhile, no fresh permits will be issued to tourists to visit the picturesque district in view of weather-related vagaries and restoration works underway for roads damaged extensively due to landslides even as all stranded tourists have been rescued.
