A major fire that broke out late Friday night completely destroyed the historic Thangu Sertok Gumpa in North Sikkim’s Lachen area, causing a significant loss to the region’s religious and cultural heritage.
According to local sources, the fire started at around 11 pm and rapidly spread through the monastery premises. The blaze also engulfed two nearby houses, causing extensive damage to property in the area.
Residents, local authorities and emergency responders rushed to the spot and made efforts to control the fire. However, the flames spread quickly and nothing from inside the monastery could be saved. The gumpa, along with its sacred objects, religious artefacts and other belongings, was reduced to ashes.
Thangu Sertok Gumpa, built around 1965, was regarded as one of the important religious institutions in the region. For decades, it served as a centre of spiritual activities and held deep religious, cultural and historical significance for the people of Lachen and nearby areas. The destruction of the monastery has come as a major shock to local residents and devotees, many of whom have expressed grief over the loss of a cherished landmark.
Minister-cum-area MLA Samdup Lepcha expressed his sorrow over the incident and conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by the tragedy. He offered his condolences and prayed for strength, courage and resilience for the families and community members facing the loss.
“The destruction of such an important religious and cultural institution is deeply painful. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this unfortunate incident,” he said.