Sikkim flood, loss of live tolls to 9, stranded tourists to be air-lifted

Prakash Adhikari, EOI, GANGTOK, JUNE 14, 2024 : Nine deaths have been confirmed in the last three days in Sikkim, State Chief Secretary V. B Pathak told reporters on Friday. He also said that the ex-gratia to family members of the dead was being provided by the Sikkim Government. The treatment for injured persons was also going on at nearby hospitals.

Around 1200 tourists were stranded in Lachung in north Sikkim. As the road connectivity had been disrupted in many place sit would take around five to six days to construct the damaged bridges, he said. 

Talking about the evacuation of stranded tourists, the Chief Secretary said the State Government had requested for helicopter requisition with the Air Force. As soon as the weather improved, the evacuation of the stranded tourists would be initiated.

The stranded tourists were all safe, he said. The Dzongu area in north Sikkim which was completely cutoff because the damage to the suspension bridge as Sangkhalang would also be connected from the Dikchu-end in two to three days, the Chief Secretary Informed. 

Talking about the availability of food grains in Sikkim, Pathak said though the National Highway was blocked Pathak there was surplus of food grains at present. But it was important that the National Highway was opened as soon as possible. For this, the State Government had already talked tothe Secretary Transport and Highways at the Centre and he had assured that the problem would be solved as soon as possible.

Informing about the situation in the glacial lakes, Pathak said that monitoring and study of glacial lakes were being done and it was a regular activity. At present there was no need to worry about it.

Taking all these concerns into consideration, a high level meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang was held on Friday and all the issues were addressed.