Sikkim landslide news today: In the early hours of Friday, a massive landslide struck Upper Rimbi in the Yangthang constituency of West Sikkim, claiming at least four lives and leaving three people missing. The disaster unfolded around midnight when mud, rocks, and debris swept down the hillside, washing away several houses and destroying an entire family home.
Authorities identified the victims as Bhim Prasad Limboo (53), his sister Anita Limboo (46), his son-in-law Bimal Rai (50), and seven-year-old Anjali Rai. The young girl miraculously survived after being trapped under the debris, though her family members did not make it.
Superintendent of Police Tshering Sherpa said three victims died on the spot, while another injured woman succumbed in hospital despite efforts to save her. A second woman remains in critical condition.
Rescue teams battle harsh weather
Rescue and relief operations were launched immediately, involving the Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and villagers. With the area cut off by floods and damaged roads, rescuers improvised by building a makeshift tree-log bridge across the overflowing Hume River to reach the affected zone. Two injured women were carried over the bridge and taken to the District Hospital in Geyzing for treatment.
Local MLA and state minister Bhim Hang Limboo arrived at the site around 2 am to oversee the operations. He acknowledged that continuous rain and unstable slopes were making the rescue work extremely challenging. He praised the coordinated efforts of all agencies, stressing that evacuations and relief distribution were proceeding despite the difficulties.
Search continues for missing persons
Authorities confirmed that three people remain unaccounted for, and search teams are combing through riverbanks, debris, and surrounding areas to trace them. Heavy rains, however, are complicating the search.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for further heavy rainfall in Sikkim and adjoining districts in the coming days. Officials have urged residents in landslide-prone or flood-hit zones to shift to safer areas as a precautionary measure.
The landslide is the latest in a series of disasters triggered by relentless monsoon rains across the Himalayan state. With large sections of roads damaged and communication disrupted, officials warn that more such incidents are likely if weather conditions do not improve.