A newly-constructed bailey bridge at Sangkalang collapsed, severing the connection between Mangan and the towns of Dzongu and Chungthang. …reports Asian Lite News
At least six people have been killed and 1,500 tourists stranded due to massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in northern Sikkim’s Mangan district, officials reported on Thursday.
A newly-constructed bailey bridge at Sangkalang collapsed, severing the connection between Mangan and the towns of Dzongu and Chungthang. The landslides have blocked roads, inundated or damaged houses, and swept away electricity poles.
Towns such as Dzongu, Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung, known for tourist attractions like Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang Valley, have been cut off from the rest of the country.
“Three persons each died in Pakshep and Ambhithang villages,” said Mangan District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri.
Several houses in Geythang and Nampathang were also damaged. A relief camp has been set up in Pakshep for displaced residents, Chettri added.
Chettri held a meeting with officials to assess the situation and instructed them to carry out rescue and relief operations. Mobile network services in North Sikkim were affected, and a request has been made for an SDRF team to bring rations to Mangan.
The collapsed bridge at Sangkalang was constructed after the major flood in the Teesta river in October last year. Authorities have advised stranded tourists to stay where they are until alternative road connections can be established. Efforts to construct a bridge at Phidang to restore connectivity are underway.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who is currently in Arunachal Pradesh, has directed local authorities to ensure a swift response to the disaster. “Efforts are underway to provide every possible support to the victims and affected families, including recovery assistance, temporary settlement, and the provision of basic needs,” Tamang said. He pledged the state government’s full support to those affected and will return to Sikkim to oversee the rescue and relief efforts personally.
Meanwhile, the Teesta river is rising, posing a threat to low-lying areas such as Singtam town. In Namchi district, the river’s surge has marooned the Melli stadium. Nearly 50 people were killed in the flash flood that hit Sikkim last October.
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