Indian Air Force launched Mi-17 helicopters for airdropping relief supplies, inserting NDRF teams for rescue operations. The Mi-17 were also used for rescuing 33 stranded individuals, including two US nationals from the Chaten region, according to a post on X by IAF.

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The rescue operation was earlier called off due to bad weather conditions in the morning, forcing the IAF to abort its mission. Around 6 AM, the chopper took off from the Pakyong airport but returned mid-air due to poor visibility near Mangan and Chetan, which had unsafe conditions for a rescue flight.

Sikkim’s Natural Disaster

The tourists have been stranded in Lachen, Sikkim, for a day due to multiple landslides caused by Heavy rainfalls, which blocked key roads and cut off access to the region. In addition, a red alert has been issued by authorities for the next three days in North Sikkim. 

Despite being a tough terrain Indian Army reached the completely cut-off Lanchen village on foot and located 113 stranded tourists. Out of them, 30, including foreign nationals, were airlifted on June 3 following massive landslides in North Sikkim, an official statement from the Minister of Defence (MoD) said.

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“In the wake of a devastating landslide in North Sikkim, the #IndianArmy is leading relentless search and rescue operations under extreme weather and hazardous terrain. Lachen village, completely cut off, has been reached on foot, with 113 stranded tourists located–30 of them, including foreign nationals, airlifted on 3 June,” the MoD said in a post on X.

Advisory by the state government

Meanwhile, the government of Mizoram has issued an advisory asking dignitaries and officials to postpone their visits to the state due to severe weather conditions. The advisory comes after several days of heavy rainfall that have triggered landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and rockfalls in many parts of the state.

(With Agency Inputs)