The rescue and evacuation of stranded tourists in North Sikkim began on Wednesday under a regulated movement plan issued by the District Magistrate of Mangan, as authorities stepped up efforts to bring back those stuck in the Lachen sector. According to the plan, around 30 vehicles were scheduled to leave Lachen early in the morning and move towards Thangu. Officials said the vehicles would proceed further to Donkyla only after receiving clearance from the Army, as part of a coordinated and carefully monitored rescue operation.
All other vehicles have been asked to remain on standby at Lachen until fresh instructions are issued. The administration said this step has been taken to avoid congestion on the narrow mountain roads and to ensure that the evacuation is carried out in an orderly manner. At the same time, the district administration has imposed a temporary restriction on movement towards the Taramchu stretch. The District Magistrate has directed that no vehicle will be allowed to move in that direction until further orders, citing safety concerns due to the damaged road condition.
Earlier, nearly 1,200 tourists were stranded in North Sikkim after a road breach along the Taram Chu stretch disrupted connectivity. With evacuation now underway, officials said efforts are being made to move people out in phases while keeping safety as the top priority.