Gangtok: The Indian Army has been conducting search and rescue operations in North Sikkim, working relentlessly amidst extreme weather and hazardous terrain following a devastating landslide in North Sikkim.
Their efforts are focused on assisting local residents and evacuating stranded tourists in the region, particularly in Lachen village, a major tourism hub that has been completely cut off.
Troops have successfully established foot connectivity to Lachen and have reached 113 stranded tourists, who are awaiting evacuation.
On June 3, military helicopters successfully airlifted 30 tourists, including some foreign nationals, to safety.
Meanwhile, intensive search operations are underway to locate six individuals still missing after the landslide struck a military camp at Chaten.
The missing persons have been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Pritpal Singh Sandhu, Subedar Dharamveer, Naik Sunilal Muchahary, Sepoy Sainudheen PK, along with Squadron Leader Aarti Sandhu (Retd), wife of Lieutenant Colonel Sandhu, and their daughter Amayra Sandhu.
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Specialized teams and engineering equipment have been deployed by the Army. However, search efforts have been significantly hampered by persistent inclement weather, unstable ground conditions, and the challenging high-altitude terrain.