Gangtok: A total of 76 Indian Army personnel were airlifted on Saturday from Chaten in North Sikkim, where multiple landslides triggered by heavy rainfall have severely disrupted road connectivity, officials confirmed.
The evacuation marks the successful completion of a coordinated operation that had earlier rescued over 1,600 stranded tourists from the region, including those in Lachen, Lachung, and Chungthang.
According to an official statement, the personnel were evacuated using three MI-17 helicopters and flown to Pakyong Greenfield Airport.
“With this, the airlift operation from Chaten has been concluded,” the official added.
The Sikkim state government continues to monitor the situation closely and remains committed to providing all necessary support and relief to those affected by the ongoing natural disaster.
Severe rainfall over the past week has led to widespread landslides in North Sikkim, severing key road links and isolating remote areas.
The Indian Army, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and Mangan district administration, jointly carried out intensive rescue and relief efforts.
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As part of the air evacuation, more than 140 tourists were lifted to safety using helicopters, with ground operations continuing for others.
Tragically, the landslide on June 1 that struck a military camp in Chaten resulted in the deaths of three army personnel.
Four others were injured, and six remain missing. Search and rescue operations are still underway to locate the missing soldiers.
