A total of 76 Indian Army personnel stranded in Chaten, North Sikkim, were successfully airlifted to safety on Saturday following days of intense rescue operations prompted by massive landslides due to heavy rainfall. Officials confirmed that the soldiers were transported to Pakyong Greenfield Airport, marking the completion of the evacuation mission.
The airlift operation utilized three MI-17 helicopters as road access to Chaten remained completely impeded due to the landslides. This mission comes on the heels of the successful rescue of over 1,600 stranded tourists from areas such as Lachen, Lachung, and Chungthang earlier in the week.
The relentless monsoon rains had triggered widespread landslides across the mountainous region, bringing roads to a standstill and disrupting communication lines. In Chaten, a military camp was notably impacted by a landslide on the evening of June 1, which resulted in the tragic loss of three soldiers. In addition, four other personnel sustained injuries, and six remain missing as search operations continue.
The coordinated efforts for the rescue involved multiple agencies, including the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and local authorities from Mangan district. Additionally, over 140 tourists had previously been evacuated from the affected areas using helicopters.
The Sikkim government is closely monitoring the ongoing situation and has assured continued support for both the defense forces and affected civilians. Meanwhile, relief and rehabilitation measures are actively underway in the disaster-hit zones to assist those impacted by the natural calamity.
