Thirty-four people were airlifted from the landslide-hit region of Chhaten in North Sikkim on Tuesday by two MI-17 V5 helicopters, officials confirmed. The evacuees included injured army personnel, their family members, and stranded tourists, all of whom were safely transported to Pakyong Airport despite ongoing challenging weather.
This rescue operation follows a catastrophic landslide that struck an army camp near Lachen in Mangan district at around 7 PM on Sunday. Triggered by relentless rainfall, the landslide claimed the lives of three army personnel—Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur, and porter Abhishek Lakhada. Their bodies have been recovered, while six other soldiers remain missing and four more sustained minor injuries.
Earlier in the day, 23 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed by air to assist in search, rescue, and establishing temporary communication links. Authorities are now exploring alternate foot-access routes and evaluating the feasibility of further helicopter operations based on weather conditions.
As efforts continue, officials warn of ongoing instability in the region due to persistent rain, while families of missing soldiers and stranded civilians await further updates with hope and concern.
