Sikkim Chief Secretary R. Telang chaired a high-level review meeting on June 2 to assess the escalating disaster situation in Mangan district, where continuous rainfall and landslides have severely disrupted normal life. With roads blocked and essential services crippled, the administration is focused on restoring power, telecom, and transport links. Mangan District Magistrate Anant Jain briefed the chief secretary via video conference on rescue efforts and infrastructural damage.
Over 1,678 stranded tourists from Lachung and Chungthang were evacuated on Monday, though more than 100 remain stranded in Lachen, according to DGP Akshay Sachdeva. The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority has officially declared the situation a disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Tragically, a landslide at Chhaten claimed the lives of three army personnel, with six others still missing. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) reported extensive damage and was directed to expedite road restoration. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team, equipped with satellite phones, will be deployed from Siliguri to support ongoing relief operations.
The chief secretary emphasized restoring communication and power as top priorities and urged coordination among departments for efficient response. The Gangtok market has been moderately affected by transportation disruptions, while Siliguri continues to serve as a critical logistics base for rescue deployment.